Hawsker Cum Stainsacre Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

About Hawsker Cum Stainsacre Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Hawsker Cum Stainsacre Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a small state primary in North Yorkshire, with just 46 pupils on roll against a capacity of 84 — so it’s running at just over half its possible size. That spare capacity is notable given the school’s location in a rural area, but it doesn’t tell the full story of demand. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school was oversubscribed: 18 applications were received for just 8 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.25. All 8 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while competition exists, families who put it first are likely to succeed. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 32.6%, well above the national primary average of around 23% — a significant marker of the school’s intake. This is a Church of England school, led by headteacher Helen Thompson, and its small size means children are taught in a close-knit setting where individual attention is more feasible than in larger primaries.

Academically, the school’s most recent Key Stage 2 results, from the 2023/24 academic year, show a mixed picture. Just 44% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well below the North Yorkshire local authority average of 60%. In individual subjects, reading and writing both saw 67% of pupils reach the expected standard, while maths was lower at 56%. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 11%, and average scaled scores were 103 in reading and 102 in maths. These outcomes place the school 193rd out of 223 primary schools in North Yorkshire, putting it in the bottom half of the LA. However, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in April 2023, confirmed that it remains Good overall — a rating it has held since at least its previous graded inspection in 2013. The leadership and management were also judged Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a forest school, music rooms, a library, ICT suite, sports hall, chapel and playing fields. Sports provision covers rounders, swimming, netball, athletics, dance, football and cricket, while clubs include science, drama and gardening. SEND support is available for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health challenges. With just 8 places available in the main intake year and oversubscription likely, families should apply early and consider the school as a first preference to maximise their chances. This is a small, rural Church of England primary that suits families who value a tight-knit community feel and are comfortable with academic results that sit below the local average, but who appreciate the school’s Good Ofsted rating and broad extracurricular offer.

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