Sherburn in Elmet, Athelstan Community Primary School

About Sherburn in Elmet, Athelstan Community Primary School

Sherburn in Elmet, Athelstan Community Primary School sits comfortably above the North Yorkshire average for its key stage 2 results, with 68% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 60%. That eight-point gap is a solid indicator that the school is delivering above the typical performance for primary schools in the area. It ranks 67th out of 223 primary schools in North Yorkshire, placing it in the top third locally and in the top 50% nationally. The school is also oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 130 applications for 59 places, with 64 of those as first preferences, giving a ratio of 2.2 applicants per place. That level of demand suggests local families see it as a strong option, and the numbers back that up.

Digging into the detail of the 2023/24 key stage 2 results, the school’s strongest subject was writing, where 89% of pupils met the expected standard, followed by reading at 79% and maths at 75%. Higher-standard attainment was more modest: 25% in reading, 19% in maths, and just 9% in writing, with only 4% reaching the higher bar across all three subjects. Average scaled scores were 105 in reading and 104 in maths, both a touch above the national benchmark of 100. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, rated it Good overall, with a standout Outstanding grade for early years provision. Leadership, behaviour, personal development and the quality of education all came in as Good. Compared with its previous inspection in 2013, which also rated it Good, the school has maintained a consistent standard.

The school offers a nursery for children from age two and runs a Forest School programme, alongside a sensory room, library and chapel. Sports provision includes swimming, gymnastics, cricket and athletics, and there are clubs for coding, drama, film and book club. SEND support covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With 17.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly mixed intake. It is a good fit for families who want a well-regarded local primary with strong core results, a clear early years focus, and enough specialist support to cater for a variety of additional needs. The oversubscription means applying as a first preference is wise.

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