Osbaldwick Primary Academy

About Osbaldwick Primary Academy

Osbaldwick Primary Academy is a state primary in York with a noticeably different intake profile from many of its local peers. The school has capacity for 420 pupils but currently enrols 275, meaning it is operating well below its maximum. That spare capacity is not for want of demand: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 58 applications for 30 places, with all 30 first-preference offers taken up, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.93. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 28 per cent, which is significantly above the national primary average and suggests the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. The school has a nursery provision, so children can join from age three, and it is non-denominational in character. The headteacher is Matthew Brown, who has overseen a notable improvement in the school’s Ofsted rating since taking the helm.

Academically, Osbaldwick performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, comfortably above the York local authority average of 62 per cent. The school ranks 16th out of 47 primary schools in York, placing it in the top half of the authority. In reading and maths, 87 per cent of pupils achieved the expected standard in each subject, and average scaled scores were 107 in both. At the higher standard, 21 per cent of pupils achieved the combined measure, with 34 per cent reaching that level in reading and 39 per cent in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2025 saw it upgraded from Requires Improvement to Good across all key areas, with personal development judged Outstanding. Behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and the quality of education were all rated Good.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, an ICT suite, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, rounders, cricket and cross country, while clubs include choir, art club and eco club. SEND support is broad, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent View responses from 91 families in the 2024/25 period show strong satisfaction: 99 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 97 per cent felt their child is safe. However, only 54 per cent agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, and 14 per cent disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly. This is a school that has turned around its Ofsted rating, serves a high-FSM community, and suits families who value strong personal development and a broad range of activities over elite academic selectivity.

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