Nun Monkton Primary Foundation School

About Nun Monkton Primary Foundation School

Nun Monkton Primary Foundation School punches well above the local average when it comes to Key Stage 2 outcomes. In the 2023/24 academic year, 86% of its pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a North Yorkshire local authority average of just 60%. That gap of 26 percentage points is striking for a small village primary with only 38 pupils on roll. The school also excels at the higher standard: 29% of children achieved greater depth in all three subjects, while 71% hit the higher mark in reading alone. These results place Nun Monkton in the top 5% of primary schools nationally and rank it 13th out of 292 similar schools in North Yorkshire. It is a genuinely high-performing school, and its outcomes suggest a focused, academically ambitious approach that belies its modest size.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2016, rated it Good overall, with Good for both leadership and management and for the quality of education. An ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed that the school remains Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014, when it was judged to Require Improvement. Progress scores at Key Stage 2 are not available in the data, but the raw attainment figures are strong: an average reading score of 113 and an average maths score of 108. The school has no sixth form, as it is a primary, and its nursery provision means children can join from age three. With only 5.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less disadvantaged than many schools in the area, which may partly explain the high results.

Facilities include an outdoor playground, sports hall, playing fields, a forest school, art studios and music rooms, which is generous for a school of this size. Clubs such as coding, gardening, science and chess add breadth. The school offers support for specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia. Admissions for the 2025/26 year show the school is oversubscribed: 12 applications for just 4 places, with a ratio of 3 applicants per place. All first-preference families were offered a place, but competition is real. Nun Monkton is best suited to families who value strong academic outcomes in a small, rural setting and are willing to navigate a competitive admissions process. Its location in North Yorkshire means it serves a largely local catchment, and the forest school and outdoor facilities will appeal to families who want a balance of classroom rigour and outdoor learning.

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