Fountains Church of England Primary School
58%
Capacity
61
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Fountains Church of England Primary School
Fountains Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in North Yorkshire that clearly inspires confidence among its families. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering responses from September 2024 to September 2025, a striking 94% of parents said they would recommend the school to others. That sentiment is backed up by strong individual scores: every single parent agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 81% strongly agreed that their child feels safe. The school is also notably oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 25 applications for just 12 places, with all 10 first-preference applicants offered a spot. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.08, meaning more than two families applied for every available place. While a small minority of parents expressed some concerns around behaviour management and communication about their child's progress, the overwhelming picture is one of a school where families feel their children are happy, safe, and doing well.
Academically, Fountains performs solidly against local and national benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is four percentage points above the North Yorkshire local authority average of 60%. The school's ranking in the local authority sits at 88th out of 223 primary schools, placing it in the top 40% of the region. Looking at individual subjects, reading is a particular strength: the average scaled score was 109, and 50% of pupils achieved the higher standard. In maths, the average score was 106, with 14% reaching the higher standard. Writing was weaker, with no pupils reaching the higher standard. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained, and the leadership and management were judged to be Outstanding. The previous graded inspection, back in 2010, rated overall effectiveness as Good, and the school has held that rating consistently.
The school is well equipped for its size, with facilities including a library, sports hall, playing fields, art studios, a sensory room and a chapel. Pupils can take part in a range of sports such as swimming, gymnastics, cricket and netball, and clubs include drama, choir, eco club, gardening and science club. For children with additional needs, the school offers support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With just 61 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105, the school has plenty of space, and the small cohort size means children are likely to receive a good deal of individual attention. This is a Church of England primary that suits families looking for a close-knit, community-focused setting where academic results are above the local average and parents overwhelmingly report that their children are happy and safe.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Grantley, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3PJ |
| Headteacher | Katie Barker |
| Local Authority | North Yorkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 61 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.8% |
| School Capacity | 61 / 105 (58% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (5 Mar 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 1 Oct 2010. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (64%)
6371st of 13,686
Nationally
663rd of 1,506
In Yorkshire and the Humber
88th of 223
In North Yorkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
64%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
55%
'23/24
64%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
16 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed12
25
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
10 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British98.4%
- Mixed1.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Fountains Church of England Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Grantley, Ripon
North Yorkshire, HG4 3PJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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