St John's Primary School In Rishworth

About St John's Primary School In Rishworth

St John’s Primary School in Rishworth is a Church of England state primary in Calderdale, a local authority where it ranks 9th out of 73 primary schools on KS2 reading, writing and maths combined. That places it comfortably in the top 25% nationally, and it sits just behind the top three peers in the area: St Mary’s CofE (VC) J and I School, All Saints’ CofE Primary School and The Greetland Academy. With only 145 pupils against a capacity of 148, it is a genuinely small school — oversubscribed for 2025/26 with twice as many applications as places. Headteacher Joanna Wasyliw leads a mixed, non-selective intake where just 3.4% of children qualify for free school meals, well below the national average. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2022, rated it Good overall, with two standout Outstanding grades: one for personal development and another for behaviour and attitudes. The previous inspection in 2015 also awarded Good overall, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.

Academically, St John’s delivers strong results at Key Stage 2. In the 2023/24 assessments, 76% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well above the Calderdale local authority average of 59%. The school’s ranking score of 76 reflects this solid performance. In reading, 88% met the expected standard and 52% reached the higher standard, while in maths 84% met the expected level and 44% achieved higher. Writing was slightly lower, with 84% at expected and just 12% at the higher threshold. Average scaled scores were 109 in reading and 107 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. The Ofsted breakdown backs this up: quality of education, early years provision and leadership and management were all judged Good, while personal development and behaviour and attitudes were rated Outstanding. There is no progress data available for reading, writing or maths, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points.

The school sits on a site with a chapel, playing fields, a sports hall, a library, music rooms and a forest school — the last of which is a notable feature for a primary of this size. Clubs include eco club, coding, chess and gardening, and sports on offer are football, rounders, cross country and cricket. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disabilities. There is no nursery provision and no sixth form, so the school serves the 4–11 age range only. With 14 first-preference applications for 14 places in 2025/26, it is exactly as popular as its capacity allows. This is a school that suits families who want a small, church-affiliated primary with strong academic outcomes and a clear focus on personal development, set in a semi-rural Calderdale village.

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