St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield
69%
Capacity
48
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield
St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield, is a small village primary that clearly appeals to local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 14 applications for just 6 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.33, meaning more than two families applied for every available spot. All six first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while the school is popular, those who put it first are likely to get in. The school has a nursery provision for children from age 3, and with a total of just 48 pupils against a capacity of 70, there is some room to grow. The headteacher is Sarah Taylor, and the school operates as a Church of England state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11.
Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, confirmed in an ungraded inspection in April 2024, and it has maintained that standard since at least its previous graded inspection in 2019. Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 57%, which is slightly below the North Yorkshire local authority average of 60%. However, reading scores were strong, with an average scaled score of 107 and 43% of pupils achieving a higher standard in reading, compared with 0% in maths and writing. The school ranks 133rd out of 223 primary schools in North Yorkshire on the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority.
The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a library, playing fields, a sports hall, an ICT suite, a forest school, a gymnasium and a chapel. Sports on offer include rounders, cricket, swimming, netball, tennis, cross country and dance, and there are clubs such as drama, choir, film club and eco club. The school has identified specific SEND provisions for pupils with dyslexia and speech, language and communication needs. With a very low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 4.2%, the school serves a relatively advantaged catchment. This is a good fit for families seeking a small, church-affiliated primary with a strong sense of community, where oversubscription reflects genuine local demand rather than academic selectivity.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Mowbray Terrace, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5JN |
| Headteacher | Sarah Taylor |
| Local Authority | North Yorkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 48 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 4.2% |
| School Capacity | 48 / 70 (69% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (11 Apr 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 6 May 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (57%)
8660th of 13,686
Nationally
922nd of 1,506
In Yorkshire and the Humber
133rd of 223
In North Yorkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
57%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed6
14
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
6 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.6%
- Mixed6.3%
- White (other)4.2%
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.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
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 St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield
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
Mowbray Terrace, Ripon
North Yorkshire, HG4 5JN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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