Scarcroft Primary School
89%
Capacity
373
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About Scarcroft Primary School
Scarcroft Primary School in York holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, with the school rated Good across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The most telling academic metric is the Key Stage 2 combined score for reading, writing and maths, where 71% of pupils met the expected standard. That figure sits comfortably above the York local authority average of 62%, placing Scarcroft 12th out of 47 primary schools in the area and in the top 25% nationally. The school also performs well at the higher standard, with 17% of pupils reaching that level across all three subjects. In individual subjects, reading and maths both returned an average scaled score of 106, while 78% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths.
The previous inspection in 2009 had awarded the school an Outstanding rating, but the current Good judgement reflects a shift in inspection criteria as much as any change in performance. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available in the data, but the solid SATs outcomes suggest pupils are generally meeting expectations. With 13.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, Scarcroft serves a broadly representative intake for a state primary in York. The school has capacity for 420 pupils and currently enrols 373, so it is not yet full, though it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake with 100 applications for 39 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.56 applicants per place. The nearest Outstanding-rated school, Knavesmire Primary, is just one kilometre away for those who might also want to compare options.
Scarcroft offers a range of facilities including a library, sports hall, gymnasium, outdoor playground and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, cross country, gymnastics and rounders, while clubs include science, art, eco and choir. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering this school, the combination of above-average SATs results, a Good Ofsted rating and a wide range of extracurricular activities makes it a strong option within York. Its oversubscription rate confirms its local popularity, and the school’s headteacher is James McGann.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Moss Street, York, York, YO23 1BS |
| Headteacher | James McGann |
| Local Authority | York |
| Number of Pupils | 373 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.7% |
| School Capacity | 373 / 420 (89% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (71%)
3695th of 13,686
Nationally
363rd of 1,506
In Yorkshire and the Humber
12th of 47
In York
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
71%
Expected Standard
17%
Higher Standard
'22/23
74%
'23/24
71%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed39
100
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
39 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British69.4%
- White (other)12.1%
- Mixed8.0%
- Asian3.0%
- Black0.8%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Scarcroft Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Moss Street, York
York, YO23 1BS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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