Listerdale Primary Academy

About Listerdale Primary Academy

Listerdale Primary Academy is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 84 applications for just 53 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.58. All 50 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that for those who put it top of their list, the school is accessible. While the Department for Education does not publish a parent-view recommendation percentage for this school, the high demand alone signals strong local confidence. The school is led by headteacher Sarah Reynolds and serves 358 pupils, which is above its stated capacity of 315. It is a mixed, non-religious state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, rated the school Good across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Academically, Listerdale performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Rotherham average of 60 per cent. This places the school 5th out of 84 primary schools in the local authority, putting it in the top 10 per cent regionally and the top 9 per cent nationally. Reading and maths average scores were 107 and 105 respectively, both above the national benchmark of 100. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading was 33 per cent, in maths 20 per cent, and in writing 8 per cent. Only 2 per cent reached the higher standard across all three subjects. The school’s Ofsted report notes that behaviour and attitudes are Good, and the previous inspection in 2010 also awarded a Good rating, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, a sports hall, an outdoor playground, a sensory room, a library and a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, swimming, cross country and gymnastics, and there are clubs for drama, choir and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists seven SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest outstanding-rated primary is Flanderwell Primary School, 1.6 km away. With an oversubscription ratio of 1.58, Listerdale is not the hardest school in the area to get into, but it is clearly in demand. It will suit families who want a Good-rated, high-performing primary with strong core results and a broad range of enrichment activities, all within a single-form entry setting.

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