Poppleton Ousebank Primary School

About Poppleton Ousebank Primary School

Poppleton Ousebank Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families, with 51 first-preference applications for 52 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, meaning almost every family who wanted it got a spot. The school was oversubscribed overall, receiving 77 applications for those 52 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.48. While the Department for Education does not publish a parent-view survey for this school, the high first-preference rate and oversubscription are strong signals that families rate it highly. Headteacher Linda Collier leads a mixed, state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision available. The school has a capacity of 444 and currently has 426 pupils on roll, so there is a little breathing room. Just 7.2 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is below the national average, suggesting a relatively affluent intake.

Academically, Poppleton Ousebank performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a York average of 62 per cent. That places the school 13th out of 47 primaries in the local authority, and in the top 28 per cent nationally. Results are particularly strong in reading and maths: 89 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in each, with average scaled scores of 108 and 107 respectively. A higher-than-average proportion of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading (48 per cent) and maths (37 per cent). In its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding ratings for early years provision and for behaviour and attitudes. The previous inspection in 2013 had rated it Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating still reflects a strong school.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a dining hall, outdoor playground, art studios, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, gymnastics, dance, netball and rounders, while clubs include drama, film club, eco club, choir, science club and chess. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With its strong academic outcomes, good behaviour record and broad extracurricular offer, Poppleton Ousebank is a strong choice for families in York who want a well-regarded primary with a calm, purposeful atmosphere. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Acomb Primary School, 4.3 km away, so this school is a particularly strong option for those in the immediate area.

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