Classpot

Knavesmire Primary School

York, YO23 1HYPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Oct 2022
KS2 Results
92%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
67 1st-choice / 59 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#204 of 13,686 nationally

About Knavesmire Primary School

Knavesmire Primary School sits at the very top of the state primary rankings in York, coming first out of 47 schools in the local authority. Its nearest outstanding-rated peer is Acomb Primary School, two kilometres away, but Knavesmire’s ranking score of 92 puts it ahead of the next highest local competitors: Lord Deramore’s Primary School (91), Ralph Butterfield Primary School (85) and Hempland Primary School (81). The school is one of only four primaries in York to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since at least its most recent graded inspection in October 2022. Headteacher Adam Cooper leads a mixed, non-religious state primary for children aged three to eleven, with a nursery on site. The school is noticeably oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 150 families applied for 59 places, and 67 of those applicants put Knavesmire as their first preference. That level of demand reflects its strong local reputation, though the school’s capacity of 420 is currently exceeded by its pupil roll of 486.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressTrafalgar Street, York, York, YO23 1HY
HeadteacherAdam Cooper
Local AuthorityYork
Number of Pupils486
Free School Meals (FSM)8.4%
School Capacity486 / 420 (116% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 20 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Outdoor PlaygroundMusic RoomsArt StudiosForest SchoolICT SuiteDining HallSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

NetballAthleticsDanceTennisSwimmingCricket

Clubs & Activities

DramaEco ClubFilm Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:25

Source: knavesmireprimary.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Knavesmire Primary School

Knavesmire Primary School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.