Rushton Primary School

About Rushton Primary School

Rushton Primary School is a small state primary in North Northamptonshire that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 35 applications for just 14 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.5. Of those 35 applications, 11 were first-preference choices, and 11 first-preference offers were made — meaning every family who put Rushton first got a place, but competition from outside that group was stiff. The school has capacity for 105 pupils and currently has 96 on roll, so there is a little breathing room, but demand is strong. Headteacher Shelley Hannant leads a mixed-gender primary for ages 4 to 11, with no religious character and no nursery or sixth-form provision. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in May 2024, confirmed it remains Good — a rating it has held consistently across its previous graded inspections too.

Academically, Rushton performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — slightly above the North Northamptonshire local authority average of 61%. That places the school 37th out of 90 primaries in the LA, putting it in the top half locally and in the top 50% nationally. Individual subject scores were respectable: a reading average score of 103, maths at 101, and writing saw 86% of pupils reach the expected standard — the strongest of the three. At the higher standard, 21% achieved greater depth in writing, while reading and maths both sat at 7%. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds, but the raw outcomes are in line with or ahead of the local picture.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for its size, including an ICT suite, art studios, a library and a chapel, plus an outdoor playground. Sports provision covers rounders, cricket, football and gymnastics, and there are clubs such as art, coding, chess, science and book club. For families with children who have additional needs, Rushton lists SEND support for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Havelock Infant School, 3.8 km away, so for parents who prioritise a Good-rated, oversubscribed village primary with a strong local reputation and a manageable commute, Rushton is a realistic and popular choice — provided you get your application in early.

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