Hertford Vale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Staxton

About Hertford Vale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Staxton

Hertford Vale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Staxton is a small village primary that parents clearly rate highly. In the most recent admissions round for 2025/26, the school was oversubscribed, with 11 applications for just 9 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.22. All nine first-preference applicants received an offer, which suggests that for local families, this is a first-choice school. The school has a Church of England character and is led by headteacher Andrew Barber. With 110 pupils on roll against a capacity of 150, there is some room for growth, but the oversubscription indicates that demand is currently strong. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 15.5 per cent, which is broadly in line with national averages for a primary school.

Academically, Hertford Vale performs solidly but not spectacularly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 53 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. This is below the North Yorkshire local authority average of 60 per cent, placing the school 150th out of 223 primary schools in the county. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In reading, 82 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, with an average score of 105, and 24 per cent reached the higher standard. Maths was similarly strong, with 82 per cent at the expected level and an average score of 104. Writing was the weaker area, with 59 per cent at the expected level and only 6 per cent at the higher standard. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023 rated it Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This was a consistent result compared with its previous Good rating in 2014.

The school offers a strong range of facilities for its size, including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, a forest school area, an ICT suite, and a sensory room. There is also a chapel on site, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Clubs include science, gardening, drama, eco club, film club and choir, and sports on offer are rounders, football, athletics and cross country. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. Hertford Vale is best suited to families living within the Staxton area who value a small, community-focused primary with a Christian character and a good range of enrichment opportunities. The oversubscription means that applying as a first preference is advisable for those within the catchment area.

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