Ripon Cathedral Church of England Primary School

About Ripon Cathedral Church of England Primary School

Ripon Cathedral Church of England Primary School’s Key Stage 2 results sit comfortably above the North Yorkshire average, with 67% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 60%. That seven-point gap places the school in the top 36% of primaries nationally and around the 70th spot out of 292 similar schools in the county. The school’s reading and maths average scores both sit at 107, and a notably high 47% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading and in maths separately, though the combined higher standard figure drops to 20%. With 12.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a slightly less affluent intake than some local peers, yet its outcomes suggest solid value added. In its most recent graded inspection, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management and early years provision also judged Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous inspection, when the school was rated Requires Improvement.

The parent view data, collected from 70 responses between September 2024 and September 2025, paints a very positive picture. 94% of parents would recommend the school, and 97% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy there. 98% felt their child feels safe, and 93% agreed the school has high expectations. On the practical side, the school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, music rooms, a sensory room, a gymnasium, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, netball, gymnastics, athletics and dance, while clubs include drama, choir, art, science and book club. The school also has a nursery provision and supports pupils with a range of special educational needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder.

Admissions are competitive: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 90 applications for 30 places, with 44 first-preference applications and 29 first-preference offers. That oversubscription ratio of three to one reflects its popularity among local families. The school is a Church of England primary, which may influence admissions criteria, and it is located in North Yorkshire, with the nearest Outstanding-rated school, St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary, just under a kilometre away. For families weighing up their options, Ripon Cathedral stands out as a Good-rated school with above-average academic outcomes, strong parent satisfaction and a clear upward trajectory from its previous Requires Improvement rating. It suits families who value a church school with a broad curriculum, good SEND support and a lively extracurricular offer, but who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ripon Cathedral Church of England Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents