Shadwell has claimed the top position among Leeds primary schools for pupil performance in 2024, a remarkable achievement for a small, rural village school with just 205 pupils and one class per year group. The June 2025 Ofsted inspection awarded Good ratings across all four headline categories, marking a significant turnaround from the Requires Improvement judgment of 2022. Most striking is the academic trajectory: 93% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics, placing the school firmly in the top 2% of schools nationally (FindMySchool ranking). This exceptional performance sits 31%age points above the England average of 62%.
The school is located on the edge of Leeds, in the semi-rural village of Shadwell, and serves a diverse, settled community. Class sizes average 29 pupils, with a one-form-entry model meaning each cohort remains tight-knit. Dr. Tracey Ellis took over as headteacher in September 2024, following the departure of her predecessor after the previous inspection. Under new leadership and with renewed momentum, the school has moved decisively upward.
There is a genuine warmth to Shadwell that stems from its size and village setting. The 2025 inspection noted that pupils "enjoy school life" and are "polite and friendly," with the school operating as "a calm and orderly school" where behaviour is consistently sensible and respectful. Older pupils take responsibility for supporting younger children, and bullying is rare; when it occurs, staff address it swiftly.
The physical environment reflects the care invested here. The school website describes "extensive outdoor space" set within the "picturesque semi-rural setting," and inspectors observed a "purposeful, well-resourced early years environment." Reading corners have been established in every classroom, and daily story time is a fixture. Children are known individually, not by cohort. Staff describe tailoring teaching to each child's needs — not through academic streaming, but through genuine attention to individual learning profiles.
The Federation of Bramham and Shadwell, established to support both schools, is central to the school's identity. The headteacher's welcome statement emphasises the core values: Confidence, Acceptance, Resilience, and Empathy (CARE). These are not platitudes pinned to walls; they frame how the school operates. Pupils participate in school council meetings, taking leadership roles as reading ambassadors and food ambassadors. Community involvement is strong, with partnerships including Shadwell Tennis Club, the local church, and Shadwell in Bloom, who tend the school's gardens and allotments. Pupils contribute art work to the village, fostering belonging beyond the school gate.
Shadwell's KS2 results represent a genuine strength. In 2024 (the most recent published cohort), 93% of pupils met the expected standard across reading, writing, and mathematics combined. This is extraordinarily strong: the England average is 62%, a gap of 31%age points.
The reading scaled score averaged 111 (England average: 100), with 59% achieving the higher standard. In mathematics, the average scaled score was 109, with 52% hitting greater depth. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling: 111 (England average: 100), with 59% at higher standard. Science, too, is exceptionally strong: 97% reached the expected standard, compared to 82% nationally.
At the higher standard, 47% of pupils achieved greater depth in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, compared to just 8% across England. This consistency across all measures suggests not one-year inflation, but sustained teaching quality and curriculum coherence.
The school ranks 341st in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 2% of primary schools nationally. Locally, it ranks 1st in Leeds when ranked by pupil performance in 2024, ahead of significantly larger schools. The previous FindMySchool data showed it ranked 3rd in Leeds; the January 2024 movement to 1st reflects the strength of the Year 6 cohort and the teaching they have received.
The June 2025 Ofsted inspection confirmed these results, noting that pupils "achieve highly" in Key Stage 2 and "leave school at the end of year 6 well prepared for secondary education." The curriculum is described as "broad and ambitious," with learning "well sequenced" so pupils "build their subject knowledge and skills in a logical way."
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
93%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
The curriculum is deliberately sequenced. Pupils move through subjects in logical steps, building knowledge cumulatively. Reading is a priority: phonics instruction begins in Reception with systematic training for staff. Early identification of pupils needing extra support is routine, and intervention is swift. The school "takes a systematic approach" to reading comprehension, with pupils reading widely and often. The inspection specifically praised the early years environment, describing it as "purposeful" and "well-resourced," supporting children's learning effectively.
French begins early and runs throughout the school. History, music, art, and drama are taught as discrete subjects alongside integrated learning in other foundation areas. The inspection deep dives included early reading, mathematics, history, and music, suggesting these are areas of particular curricular strength. Teachers have "secure subject knowledge" and "present new information in a clear and structured way," according to inspectors.
The June 2025 inspection also identified two areas requiring ongoing attention. First, sometimes teachers do not check pupils' understanding with sufficient rigour before moving on to new material, and questioning can be more incisive in drawing out deeper thinking. This is a strength-in-progression comment rather than a deficit: the school is now at the stage where the next improvement is differentiated questioning within good lessons, not wholesale teaching changes. Second, the school has begun to strengthen its teaching of the protected characteristics within personal development, as this was previously patchy.
These observations reflect realistic, growth-oriented feedback rather than fundamental concerns. The overall picture is of a school with secure foundations and clear areas for refinement.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires Improvement
Behaviour management is established and consistent, starting in early years through modelling and routine-setting, and continuing into Year 1 and beyond as pupils gradually take responsibility for their own conduct. The inspection noted a clear behaviour policy with staff modelling expected behaviours, and pupils responding with kindness and respect for one another.
The school identifies and meets the needs of pupils with special educational needs well. 4% of pupils have an Education, Health, and Care Plan, and 8% receive SEN support. The Head of Learning Support works alongside teachers to set personalised targets. Pupils with SEND "learn the same curriculum as their peers" and "achieve well from their different starting points."
Safeguarding is effective, and the school works closely with parents and carers in pupils' best interests. Staff wellbeing is prioritised, and workload is described as manageable — important in an era of staff burnout.
Music is a notable strength. The school choir is established and performs regularly. Instrumental music lessons are offered to many pupils, suggesting a partnership with peripatetic teachers or a music service. The June 2025 inspection included a deep dive into music, signalling its importance in the school's offering.
The school runs a rich variety of clubs that rotate each half-term, offering choice and preventing repetition. Named clubs include Art Club, Football Club, Netball Club, Dodgeball, Karate, Innovation Club, Origami, Coding Club, Sewing Club, Cooking Club, Circuit Training, Book Club, Little Lions, and LS-Ten Skateboarding. This breadth — from creative to physical to digital — means almost every child finds something aligned to their interests. The rotation ensures pupils can sample different activities across the year.
Outdoor activities feature prominently at lunchtime, taking advantage of the expansive school grounds. The village setting means open space is abundant, and the school uses it extensively.
The school offers between 10 and 15 different sports throughout the year, with specialist teaching in PE. Representative teams compete in major sports from Year 3 onward, indicating both inclusive participation and aspirational pathways for keen athletes. Tennis is a particular focus, through partnership with Shadwell Tennis Club, which provides both in-school and after-school coaching. A competitive sports programme is "well-received by both pupils and parents."
Educational visits occur regularly across all year groups, enriching the curriculum with first-hand experience. Year 6 benefits from a residential trip, typically to enhance independence and outdoor learning. The June 2025 inspection noted pupils "enjoy a wide range of educational visits that enrich their learning."
Pupils engage in meaningful community action. They collect food at harvest time for Leeds foodbanks, participate in community events, and contribute artwork to village displays as part of Shadwell in Bloom's entry to the national 'In Bloom' competition. School council meetings give pupils a voice in decision-making, and older pupils hold leadership roles.
Shadwell is oversubscribed. In 2024, 111 applications were received for 28 places at Reception, a ratio of approximately 4:1. The school is popular, and places are competitive.
Admissions are coordinated through Leeds City Council. The admissions criteria prioritise looked-after children, then children with exceptional social or medical needs, then siblings, then catchment priority. The school operates a defined catchment area; the Leeds Council website indicates children who live in the priority area receive priority after the first two tiers. A formal distance threshold is not published by the school, though distances clearly vary year to year depending on the distribution of applications.
Entry points are Reception (age 5) and potentially higher entry at other year groups if places become available, though these are rare given oversubscription. The school does not conduct entrance tests; all admissions are through the standard local authority coordinated admissions process.
Applications
111
Total received
Places Offered
28
Subscription Rate
4.0x
Apps per place
Pupils transition to secondary schools across Leeds. The most common destinations are the non-selective secondaries in the immediate locality, such as Roundhay School (approximately 3.2 miles away) and Allerton High School (3.6 miles). Selective grammar schools, including The Grammar School at Leeds (2.7 miles away), attract pupils from Shadwell, though no specific figures are published. Independent secondaries in the region, such as Gateways School (4.6 miles), also receive pupils from the school.
The June 2025 inspection confirms that pupils "leave school at the end of year 6 well prepared for secondary education," a reflection of the solid academic foundation and social skills pupils develop here.
The school day runs from 8:50 am to 3:20 pm (based on standard primary hours; check the school website for exact times and any variations).
Breakfast club and after-school care are available. Reception-age children can access care through Shadwell Childcare, which operates a nursery and wraparound provision on-site and works closely with the school (contact 0113 265 9050 for details). For older pupils, after-school club runs until approximately 6:00 pm, operated by an external contractor. Holiday club also runs during school holidays. These services provide genuine flexibility for working families.
The school is located on Main Street in Shadwell village, in North East Leeds, approximately 5 miles from the city centre. Public transport links to Leeds bus services exist; families within the village can typically walk or cycle. For families outside the catchment or at greater distance, car travel or coach services may be necessary. The school does not operate its own transport, though some families organise informal car-sharing.
Oversubscription & Distance. With 4:1 applications-to-offers ratio, securing a place is genuinely challenging. If you live outside the defined catchment, or at significant distance within it, places are unlikely unless you have siblings at the school or meet one of the earlier tiers. Families should verify the precise catchment boundary and typical distances offered before relying on this school.
One-form entry. With only one class per year group (30 places), the school is small. Siblings tend to stay together, and there is genuine community. For some families, this intimacy is a strength; others may prefer larger schools with more class options and broader peer groups.
New leadership. The headteacher took post in September 2024, having previously been in a different role (likely deputy headteacher at the federated school, Bramham Primary). She is new to the top role and inherits a school in upward trajectory. Leadership continuity is not guaranteed; watch for staff changes over the coming 12 months as she settles in and shapes her vision.
Inspection improvements to embed. The school moved from Requires Improvement (December 2022) to Good across all areas (June 2025) in just 2.5 years. This is positive, but embedding those gains and moving toward greater depth in some areas (questioning, protected characteristics teaching) remains active work.
Shadwell is a small, village school with genuinely excellent academic outcomes and a warm, community-oriented ethos. The June 2025 Ofsted inspection confirmed it as a Good school across all key areas, and KS2 results place it in the top 2% of schools nationally. For families within the catchment area, this is an attractive choice: small enough to know your child individually, large enough to offer proper breadth of curriculum and clubs, and with demonstrably strong teaching.
The main challenge is simply gaining a place. Oversubscription is severe, and distance from the school becomes the determining factor for most applications. Families outside the village or living at the periphery of the catchment should research distances carefully and consider realistic alternatives.
Best suited to families living within or very close to the Shadwell catchment who value small-school ethos, strong academics, and genuine community involvement. If you live at distance or outside the catchment, this school is unlikely to be accessible unless you have sibling priority.
Yes. The school received Good ratings in all four key areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — in its June 2025 Ofsted inspection. This represents significant progress from a Requires Improvement judgment in December 2022. Academic results are exceptionally strong: 93% of pupils reach the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics at Key Stage 2, placing the school in the top 2% nationally. The school ranks 1st in Leeds for pupil performance in 2024.
Very. The school received 111 applications for 28 Reception places in 2024, a ratio of approximately 4:1. After looked-after children and exceptional medical/social need, priority goes to siblings and then children in the catchment area. Families living outside the catchment or at significant distance should verify distances carefully; places beyond these criteria are extremely rare.
The school operates within a defined catchment area managed by Leeds City Council. Families living within this area (after looked-after children and exceptional cases) are prioritised. The exact boundary can be found on the Leeds Council website, or families should contact the school directly. Distances vary year to year depending on applications.
The curriculum is broad and ambitious, following the national framework with enrichment. Reading is a priority, with phonics instruction from Reception and daily story time. French begins in Year 1. Mathematics, science, history, geography, art, and music are all taught as discrete subjects. Some foundation subjects integrate with others. The inspection praised the school's curriculum as "well sequenced," with pupils building knowledge logically as they progress through the school.
Clubs rotate each half-term and include Art, Football, Netball, Dodgeball, Karate, Innovation, Origami, Coding, Sewing, Cooking, Circuit Training, Book Club, Little Lions, and LS-Ten Skateboarding. The school offers 10-15 different sports throughout the year, with specialist PE teaching. Music lessons are available to many pupils. Year 6 enjoys a residential trip, and all year groups undertake regular educational visits. Pupils also participate in community action, including food collection for foodbanks and involvement with the local church.
Breakfast club operates from 7:30 am. After-school club runs until 6:00 pm (exact times subject to confirmation). For Reception pupils, Shadwell Childcare provides additional care and operates a nursery on-site (call 0113 265 9050 for details). Holiday club is also available. These services support working families with flexible childcare.
No. The school operates Reception from age 5 onward. However, Shadwell Childcare Limited provides a privately-operated nursery and wraparound care on the school site for younger children (ages 2+), and staff coordinate closely with the school. For families seeking earlier years provision, Shadwell Childcare offers an on-site option.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
