Yardley Hastings Primary School Review 2026: A small village primary with elite Key Stage 2 outcomes

For families who want a genuinely small primary where staff can know children well, Yardley Hastings Primary School stands out. Academic outcomes are exceptionally strong for a state-funded school, with Key Stage 2 results placing it among the highest-performing primaries in England, while the day-to-day offer remains grounded in village-school practicality, mixed-age classes, and an early years unit that links nursery and Reception closely.

Leadership has recently refreshed. Mrs Ruth Tuttle is the headteacher, and took up the Head of Yardley Hastings role in September 2025.

The latest Ofsted inspection (November 2023, report published 12 December 2023) judged the school Outstanding in every graded area, including early years.

Yardley Hastings Primary is organised around a clear set of SMART values, self confident, motivated, aspirational, resilient, and team players. These are not presented as abstract concepts; they are built into how pupils talk about expectations and how responsibility is distributed across the school. Leadership roles are a defining feature for a small school, and pupils are encouraged to contribute through positions such as school council members, librarians, friendship finders, house captains, and peer “buddies” for younger children.

A notable structural detail is the way the school handles its size. With a capacity of 120 and a published class structure that groups pupils across year bands, the experience can feel more personalised than many larger primaries, but it also means mixed-age teaching is normal rather than occasional. Early Years (nursery and Reception) are taught together within the Foundation Stage class; Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are grouped into paired-year classes.

The nursery is positioned as an integral part of the school, rather than a separate add-on. Early years provision emphasises daily phonics, early number and counting, and regular music input from a specialist teacher, with outdoor access described as part of normal routine across seasons. (Nursery pricing is published by the school, but parents should check the official nursery page directly for current rates, and for eligibility details on funded hours.)

Outcomes at the end of Year 6 are exceptional by any benchmark. In 2024, 95.33% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 40.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with the England average of 8%. Reading scaled score was 109, mathematics 110, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 113.

Those outcomes translate into an elite national position: ranked 243rd in England and 2nd in Northampton for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), placing the school among the highest-performing in England (top 2%).

For parents, the implication is straightforward. Pupils who are already secure in the basics are likely to be pushed into deeper understanding rather than repetition, but the level of attainment also suggests a school culture where consistency matters. Families should expect clear routines, structured learning, and purposeful use of lesson time.

Parents comparing nearby schools can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view these results alongside other West Northamptonshire primaries, including the England averages, on a like-for-like basis.

The curriculum is described by the school as broad and ambitious, with clear sequencing of the knowledge pupils are expected to learn at each stage. That clarity matters most in mixed-age classes, where planning has to ensure Year 3 pupils progress without Year 4 content being repeated, and vice versa.

In early years, the approach is explicitly skills-led: daily phonics, frequent number work, and a strong emphasis on learning through engaging tasks. The additional benefit of an integrated nursery and Reception set-up is continuity. Children are already used to the routines and staff before they reach statutory school age, and social integration can be smoother for children who start earlier.

At the other end of the school, Key Stage 2 results indicate that pupils are not only meeting expected standards but exceeding them at scale. For families, this typically means homework and reading routines are taken seriously, and pupils will be expected to explain their thinking, not just produce correct answers.

As a state primary, pupils transfer to secondary schools through local authority admissions. The school does not publish a single “destination secondary” list on its website, and in this part of West Northamptonshire, secondary choices can vary significantly depending on where families live and whether they apply to selective or non-selective options.

What the school can control is transition quality. In a small setting, Year 6 preparation is usually highly focused, both academically and pastorally, because cohort size makes individual readiness easier to track. Parents who want clarity on typical secondary pathways should ask the school directly how recent cohorts have transitioned, including which secondaries are most common and what support is offered for applications.

Reception admissions are coordinated by West Northamptonshire Council, and the school publishes a planned admission limit of 15 for Reception.

Demand is meaningful relative to size. For the most recent intake data provided, there were 42 applications for 15 offers, which equates to 2.8 applications per place. First preference demand also exceeded places, at 1.47 times the number of available first preference offers, reinforcing that this is not a “walk-in” option even though it is a small village school.

For September 2026 entry, West Northamptonshire’s published primary admissions timeline is clear: applications open from 10 September 2025, the deadline is 15 January 2026, and offers are released on 16 April 2026.

Nursery entry is separate from Reception. The school notes that nursery places can be available from the term after a child’s third birthday, subject to availability, and parents should treat nursery and Reception as distinct decision points.

Families considering this school should use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand practical travel distance and daily logistics, even when formal catchment distances are not published in the intake data shown here.

The school’s values-led approach is reinforced by a strong pupil-responsibility culture. When pupils can be librarians, friendship finders, house captains, and peer buddies, it creates repeated opportunities for pupils to practise social leadership, not just talk about it.

The school also publishes a dedicated SENDCO and senior teacher role, alongside a structured staff team that includes higher level teaching assistant support and named wraparound staff. For families, this typically indicates operational stability, which matters in a small school where absence or turnover can be felt quickly across the whole community.

Ofsted’s published report also confirms that pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular provision is unusually detailed for a small primary, with named clubs and providers published termly. Current examples include:

• Basketball (Years 3 to 6) with Hotshots

• Multi-sports (Years 1 to 6) with Mr Perry

• Football (Years 1 to 6) with GLK Academies

• Gymnastics (Years 1 to 6) with GLK Academies

• Rocksteady music sessions for Reception to Year 6, delivered as small-group band-format learning

Music is a visible strand, not a token offer. The school publishes strings tuition provision, and early years also references weekly specialist music teaching. The implication for parents is that children who respond well to routine practice and performance opportunities are likely to find plenty to engage with, even without the scale of a large primary.

There is also evidence of wider enrichment through school life events mentioned in leadership communications, including singing events and Key Stage 2 swimming lessons.

The school day runs 8:50am to 3:30pm, with a 9:00am registration.

Wraparound care is clearly signposted. Breakfast club begins at 8:00am, and after-school club runs to 5:30pm, with options for shorter sessions depending on club participation. (Charges apply for wraparound care; these are not tuition fees, and parents should check the school’s current pricing and booking arrangements.)

Security is handled through controlled access, with visitors checking in via the school office.

As a rural village school, day-to-day travel is likely to be a mix of walking for local families and driving for others. Parking and safe walking routes are best clarified directly with the school, particularly at drop-off and pick-up when space can be constrained in village settings.

• Small-school dynamics. With a capacity of 120 and mixed-age classes, children tend to be well known, but friendship groups and peer dynamics can feel more concentrated than in a large two-form entry primary.

• Competition for Reception places. With 42 applications for 15 places in the most recent intake data shown here, demand is significant relative to size. Families should apply on time and keep realistic contingency options.

• Nursery does not remove the Reception hurdle. Nursery is part of the school’s early years offer, but Reception admissions are still coordinated formally through the local authority, with set deadlines for 2026 entry.

• High attainment can bring higher expectations. Results imply pupils are pushed beyond the basics. For some children this is energising; for others it can feel demanding if confidence is fragile or gaps are left unaddressed early.

Yardley Hastings Primary School combines village-scale familiarity with genuinely elite Key Stage 2 outcomes. It is a strong option for families who want a small setting, clear values, and a learning culture that moves pupils beyond “expected” into deeper attainment. Best suited to children who thrive with clear routines and high expectations, and to families prepared to engage early with admissions given the limited Reception intake.