Rugby Free Primary School

About Rugby Free Primary School

Rugby Free Primary School sits comfortably above the Warwickshire local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 70% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the LA average of 62%. That eight-percentage-point gap places the school in the top quarter of primary schools in the Rugby district, ranked 7th out of 28. It also ranks 50th out of 196 primary schools across the wider Warwickshire authority, putting it in the top 26% of all state primaries in the county. Nationally, it sits around the 31st percentile, which is a solid mid-table performance for a school that is not selective and serves a broadly typical intake. The school’s Ofsted rating of Good was confirmed in an ungraded inspection in September 2023, with inspectors noting that the school remains Good across all areas including leadership, early years provision and overall effectiveness.

Digging into the detail of the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school’s strongest subject is maths, where 82% of pupils met the expected standard and 35% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 107. Reading is similarly strong, with 80% at expected and 40% at the higher level, also averaging 107. Writing lags slightly behind, with 77% at expected and 20% at the higher level, which is still above the national average for that subject. The combined expected standard figure of 70% is a healthy result, though it does not place the school among the very top performers in the LA — the three top-ranked peers all achieved a perfect ranking score of 100. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Riverside Academy, 3.2 km away, which may be a consideration for families prioritising that top grade. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 136 applications for 60 places and 54 first-preference offers made from 65 first-preference applications — an oversubscription ratio of 2.27, indicating strong local demand. Facilities include a library, dining hall, outdoor playground, art studios, playing fields and a gymnasium, and the school offers a broad range of sports including netball, tennis, football, cricket, swimming, gymnastics and cross country. Clubs cover drama, film, gardening and eco activities. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. With 11.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a slightly below-average proportion of disadvantaged pupils for a state primary. This is a solid, well-regarded local option for families who want above-average academic outcomes without the pressure of an Outstanding-rated school, and who value a wide range of sporting and enrichment opportunities.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Rugby Free Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents