Kirkby in Malhamdale United Voluntary Aided Primary School

About Kirkby in Malhamdale United Voluntary Aided Primary School

Kirkby in Malhamdale United Voluntary Aided Primary School is a small state primary in North Yorkshire that clearly commands strong local confidence. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 18 applications for just 10 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.8. All ten first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the overall demand shows that families in the area are actively seeking a place here. The school currently has 54 pupils on roll against a capacity of 84, so there is some room for growth, but the oversubscription suggests that for the reception intake, competition is real. ParentView data is not available in the school’s records, but the combination of high first-preference demand and a Good Ofsted rating (confirmed in its most recent graded inspection in 2019 and upheld in an ungraded inspection in 2024) points to a school that local families trust.

Academically, Kirkby in Malhamdale performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a North Yorkshire local authority average of 60%. That places the school 20th out of 223 primary schools in the county, putting it in the top 10% nationally. In individual subjects, every pupil met the expected standard in both reading and maths, and 100% achieved the expected level in maths. At the higher standard, 50% of pupils reached that level in writing, 17% in reading and 17% in maths. The average scaled scores were 107 in maths and 106 in reading. The school’s previous Ofsted inspection in 2016 rated it as Requires Improvement, so the turnaround to Good under headteacher Claire Roberts is notable.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a library, playing fields, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite and a gymnasium. Sports on offer include netball, football, cricket, swimming and dance, while clubs extend to choir, art, coding, gardening, book club and drama. For children with additional needs, the school has specialist provision for speech, language and communication needs and for autistic spectrum disorder. There is nursery provision for children from age three. The school has no religious character and is a mixed, state-funded primary for ages 3 to 11. It does not have a sixth form. Given its strong academic outcomes, oversubscribed status and rural North Yorkshire setting, this school is likely to suit families who prioritise a small, community-focused primary with proven results and a broad extracurricular offer.

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