Last reviewed: February 2026 · Rankings and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
This is a small Church of England voluntary aided primary in Middleham, serving families in and around the town as part of a federation with nearby Spennithorne. The offer is shaped by scale: mixed-age classes, tight routines, and staff wearing multiple hats, which can create a close-knit feel and consistent adult relationships.
The most recent full inspection in October 2022 judged the school Good, and the report points to a calm, purposeful culture and an approach that aims to keep curriculum breadth despite small cohorts.
A key practical point for families looking ahead is that North Yorkshire Council is consulting on a federation restructure from 01 September 2026, including a proposed change to Middleham’s age range from 4 to 11 to 7 to 11. If implemented, it would alter where Reception and Key Stage 1 are based.
Being part of a federation influences how the school feels day to day. The staffing model is organised across the two sites, and the published staff structure shows senior leadership with defined safeguarding and collective worship responsibilities, which matters in a small school where roles need to be explicit.
As a Church of England school, collective worship and Christian values are not an add-on. The federation positions this as part of its core identity and day-to-day language, rather than a separate strand.
The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Small schools often live or die by consistency. Here, the published routines and staffing list suggest a stable framework, with clear named responsibilities (including safeguarding, wellbeing, and curriculum leadership) rather than relying on informal “everyone covers everything” arrangements.
Published headline performance measures for very small cohorts can be limited in what they meaningfully show year to year. For this school, the most reliable public reference point for educational quality is the inspection evidence, which is recent enough to be relevant for current families.
The October 2022 inspection outcome was Good. Ofsted also confirmed that safeguarding was effective at the time of inspection.
Because the school’s public results profile is not the main story here, parents usually get most value from looking at curriculum intent, teaching organisation across mixed ages, and the practicalities of the federation model, then testing that against their child’s temperament and learning needs.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
56%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
The federation describes an ambitious curriculum designed around small-school realities, with staff leading subjects across the two sites. This matters because in small settings, subject leadership can be diluted unless it is deliberately planned.
Mixed-age teaching is part of the structure. The inspection report describes how the school is organised for pupils across the primary years, and that organisation is central to how learning works here: planning needs to be sharply sequenced so pupils build knowledge year on year without repeating content.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
For a 4 to 11 primary, the practical question is transition to secondary. In this part of North Yorkshire, many families look toward schools serving the Wensleydale area, with travel time often shaping the shortlist as much as admissions criteria.
If the proposed federation restructure goes ahead from September 2026, families should pay close attention to how Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 provision would be split across the two sites, since that can change peer groups and daily logistics even when the overall federation remains the same.
For Reception entry, applications are coordinated by North Yorkshire Council, with published dates for the 2027 intake:
Applications open: 12 October 2025
Closing date: 15 January 2027
Last date to change or submit a late application (as published by the council): 19 February 2027
Recent demand data indicates the school is oversubscribed, with 11 applications for 3 offers (a ratio of 3.67 applications per place in that data snapshot). That reflects a very small intake picture where a handful of additional families can change competitiveness substantially.
Because the federation restructure proposal specifically references admissions numbers and age-range changes from 01 September 2026, families considering entry in 2026 and beyond should read the council consultation materials carefully and track the final determination.
Tip: if you are weighing this against other local options, the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tools can help you line up the basics (phase, admissions pressure signals, and context) in one view, then you can focus visits and calls on the short list.
Applications
11
Total received
Places Offered
3
Subscription Rate
3.7x
Applications per place
The published leadership roles include designated safeguarding responsibilities at executive head level, which is particularly important in small schools where staffing is lean and cover arrangements can be frequent.
The school also participates in wider wellbeing and safeguarding communications through federation channels, including parent information and community links.
Clubs and enrichment tend to be offered in a practical, small-school way: a mix of lunchtime and after-school opportunities, with termly scheduling and booking through the school office.
From the federation’s published newsletters and notices, examples of enrichment that have featured include:
After-school sports club provision noted for Years 3 to 6 at the Middleham site (termly scheduling)
Music club and games club referenced in newsletter communications
Forest school sessions appearing in diary dates
Swimming lessons referenced via trips to a local leisure centre
For families, the implication is straightforward: the offer is there, but it is shaped by staffing capacity. In small schools, clubs can be excellent when they run, but they may change term to term.
Published start and finish times differ by site and phase. For the Middleham site (Years 3 to 6), the day is listed as:
Morning session 8:45 to 12:00
Lunch 12:00 to 13:00
Afternoon 13:00 to 15:15
Wraparound care is referenced through an on-site provider arrangement, with hours stated as 07:00 to 18:00, plus an additional after-school sports session for older pupils on a Thursday in the federation communications.
Parking and drop-off in a small town setting can matter more than parents expect. Federation newsletters have included reminders about safe parking and using alternative off-road options nearby.
Very small cohorts, big swings in competitiveness. With small intakes, a few extra applicants can change admissions pressure dramatically year to year.
Federation restructure proposal from September 2026. The council consultation proposes shifting Middleham to 7 to 11. Families applying around this period should track the final decision and what it means for siblings and continuity.
Mixed-age teaching model. This can suit adaptable pupils who enjoy learning with a wider age range, but it can be less comfortable for children who prefer strictly age-banded routines.
Wraparound and clubs are practical, not guaranteed. Provision exists and is communicated, but it may vary by term due to staffing and demand.
This is a small, faith-based primary where scale shapes everything: teaching groups, relationships, enrichment, and admissions dynamics. It suits families who value a Church of England ethos, close adult oversight, and a federation approach that broadens capacity across two sites. The main watch-out for 2026 onwards is the proposed age-range restructure, which could materially change the journey through early primary years for new starters.
The most recent full inspection in October 2022 judged the school Good. It is a small setting, so quality is best assessed through the inspection picture, curriculum organisation, and whether the federation model fits your child.
Reception admissions are coordinated by North Yorkshire Council, using the authority’s published admissions arrangements. Families should check the council’s current primary admissions guidance and the school’s admissions information for the latest criteria.
North Yorkshire Council’s published timeline shows applications opening on 12 October 2026 and closing on 15 January 2027 for Reception 2027 entry.
North Yorkshire Council is consulting on proposals affecting the federation from 01 September 2026, including a proposed change to Middleham’s age range from 4 to 11 to 7 to 11. Families should follow the consultation outcome and any final determination.
The federation publishes different session times by site. For the Middleham site (Years 3 to 6), the listed day runs from 8:45 to 15:15 with lunch 12:00 to 13:00.
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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.
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