Ribchester St Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

About Ribchester St Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Ribchester St Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a small state primary in the Ribble Valley, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and behaviour and attitudes. That’s a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was judged Requires Improvement across the board. While the school doesn’t publish its own Key Stage 2 SATs results in the data, the Lancashire local authority average for primary schools sits at 60 percent of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Without a specific school figure to compare, it’s hard to say whether Ribchester St Wilfrid’s is above or below that benchmark, but the Ofsted upgrade suggests a school that has turned things around and is now performing solidly. With only 87 pupils on roll against a capacity of 112, it’s a genuinely small setting, and the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 9.2 percent, which is below the national average.

Academically, the school’s trajectory is encouraging. The 2023 inspection noted that the quality of education is now Good, and inspectors highlighted strong leadership and management as key drivers of improvement. The early years provision, which was previously graded as Requires Improvement, has also been lifted to Good. There’s no Progress 8 data available for this primary school, so the main academic yardstick is the Ofsted judgement itself. Compared with its previous inspection, the rating has moved up from Requires Improvement to Good, and the ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. That consistency matters for parents looking for stability. The school does not have a sixth form, which is standard for a primary, and it does offer nursery provision, so children can start before Reception. With 15 places available for the 2025/26 intake and 24 applications received, the school is oversubscribed by a ratio of 1.6, and only 10 of those 24 applicants listed it as their first preference.

For families considering Ribchester St Wilfrid’s, the practical picture is one of a well-equipped small school. Facilities include a music room, dining hall, gymnasium, sensory room, playing fields and a chapel, which is fitting for a Church of England school. Sports on offer range from netball and athletics to swimming, tennis and cricket, and there are clubs for drama, gardening, choir, book club and chess. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties or disabilities, so it’s set up to support a range of additional needs. The headteacher is Katie Isherwood, and the school’s religious character is Church of England, which may appeal to families who want a faith-based primary. Given its oversubscription, parents should be prepared to apply early and list it as a first preference to maximise their chances. This is a school that suits families looking for a small, improving village primary with strong pastoral and extracurricular offerings.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ribchester St Wilfrid's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents