Yew Tree Primary Academy

About Yew Tree Primary Academy

Yew Tree Primary Academy sits within Knowsley local authority, a borough where just five of its 50 primary schools hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating. The school itself ranks 36th out of 47 primaries in Knowsley on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it in the bottom half of the local league table. Its top-performing neighbours include Halewood Church of England Primary Academy, Halsnead Primary School and Whiston Willis Primary Academy, all of which score higher on the same metric. The school is a mixed, state-funded primary for children aged three to eleven, with no religious character. It has a nursery provision on site, but no sixth form. Headteacher Rebecca O'Hanlon leads a school that is smaller than many in the area, with 233 pupils against a capacity of 262, and a notably high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 50.4 per cent.

In its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023, Yew Tree Primary Academy was rated Good across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This matches its previous Good rating from December 2013, so the school has maintained its standard over a decade. At key stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 53 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is below the Knowsley local authority average of 60 per cent. Individual subject results show 58 per cent at expected in reading, 61 per cent in writing and 56 per cent in maths. Higher standard attainment is low: 17 per cent in reading, 6 per cent in writing and just 3 per cent in maths. Average scaled scores were 103 in reading and 102 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 30 per cent of primaries on this combined measure.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, music rooms, an ICT suite, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers cross country, gymnastics, tennis and football, while clubs include coding, science club and choir. Yew Tree has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder, plus a resourced provision. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed: 37 applications for 25 places, with 21 offers made to first-preference applicants out of 22 who named it first. That oversubscription ratio of 1.48 suggests strong local demand, particularly from families who prioritise the school's SEND support and its consistent Good rating. It will suit families in Knowsley looking for a stable, well-resourced primary with a strong pastoral and SEND framework.

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