Thomas Hinderwell Primary Academy

About Thomas Hinderwell Primary Academy

Thomas Hinderwell Primary Academy in North Yorkshire is a smaller-than-average primary, with 168 pupils on roll against a capacity of 310. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 41.7%, well above the national average and a clear signal of the community it serves. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 38 applications for just 13 places, with 12 of those coming as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of nearly three-to-one suggests a school that local families are actively choosing, despite its size. The school has nursery provision and is mixed-gender, non-denominational, and state-funded. Headteacher Chloe Webster leads a team that has been navigating a period of transition, as reflected in the school’s most recent Ofsted rating.

Academically, the picture is mixed but improving. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well above the North Yorkshire local authority average of 60%. The school ranks 21st out of 223 primaries in the county for this measure, placing it in the top 10% locally and the top 8% nationally. Average scores in reading (107) and maths (106) are both above the national benchmark of 100. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects is just 13%, and progress scores are not available in the data. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection in February 2023 rated the school Requires Improvement overall, with behaviour and attitudes also requiring improvement. On the positive side, early years provision, personal development, and leadership and management were all judged Good — a notable step up from the previous Inadequate rating in 2020.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, ICT suite, playing fields, art studios, library, gymnasium, outdoor playground, sensory room and chapel. Sports provision covers football, dance, gymnastics, tennis, netball, cross country and cricket, while clubs include gardening, eco club, book club, science club, choir and chess. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia), moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that clearly serves a diverse intake with significant disadvantage, and the oversubscription figures suggest it is valued by local families. It would suit parents looking for a community-focused primary with strong SEND support and improving academic outcomes, set in a rural North Yorkshire context.

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