Riccall Community Primary School

About Riccall Community Primary School

Riccall Community Primary School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2010. The school's leadership and management were also judged Good, and the inspection confirmed the school remains on a positive trajectory. When it comes to academic outcomes at Key Stage 2, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 47% of Riccall's Year 6 pupils achieved this benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits below the North Yorkshire local authority average of 60%, placing the school in the bottom half of primary schools in the area — 182nd out of 223. Nationally, it ranks in the 83rd percentile, meaning roughly 17% of schools nationally scored lower on this measure.

Looking at individual subjects, Riccall's pupils performed more strongly in maths, where 78% met the expected standard and 13% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 104. Reading saw 72% at expected and 22% at the higher level, with an average score of 105. Writing was the weakest area: 63% met the expected standard and just 3% achieved greater depth. The school has no Progress 8 data available, so it's not possible to say how much value it adds relative to pupils' starting points. The Ofsted report from 2023 noted the school remains Good, but the inspection was ungraded, meaning inspectors did not reassess every category in detail. The early years provision was last graded separately in 2010, when it was judged Requires Improvement, so there is no recent rating for that phase.

Riccall is a state primary for children aged 2 to 11, with nursery provision on site and a current roll of 219 pupils against a capacity of 243. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26 reception places, receiving 47 applications for 19 places — a ratio of 2.47 applicants per place, though all 19 first-preference families were offered a spot. The school offers a broad set of facilities including a forest school, ICT suite, library, music rooms, art studios, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, tennis, swimming, cricket, football, cross country and netball, plus clubs like chess, book club and gardening. SEND provision covers moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disability and other difficulties. This is a school that suits families who value the forest school and outdoor play, and who are comfortable with academic results that are below the local average but improving from a weaker baseline.

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