Orston Primary School Review 2026: High-performing village primary with strong KS2 outcomes

A small village primary with a clear focus on behaviour, reading, and consistent classroom routines, Orston Primary School has the feel of a close-knit community school while posting results that stand out well beyond its size. Academic outcomes at the end of Key Stage 2 are notably strong, and the day-to-day culture is calm, purposeful, and values-led.

Leadership is stable under Headteacher Ms Nikki Crosby, appointed in January 2021, with a staff team structured around familiar year-group teaching plus a clear pastoral and safeguarding spine. For families looking for a high-achieving, traditional primary experience in a rural setting, this is a school to shortlist, with the practical caveat that demand is higher than the number of places available.

Orston Primary School is explicit about identity and belonging, and this shows up in pupils’ language around shared values, roles, and responsibilities. The school’s community feel is not a marketing line, it is reinforced through pupil leadership opportunities and a consistent behavioural tone. The latest Ofsted inspection (January 2023) judged the school Good overall, with Behaviour and attitudes rated Outstanding.

The physical site also reflects a school that has grown with its village. The main building was built in 1939 and opened in 1940, and the school now operates with seven classrooms plus a hall and kitchen spaces. The site history includes a community-funded new classroom completed in 2014, supported by local partners and fundraising, a detail that signals how embedded the school is in the area.

What parents tend to value here is consistency. The routines around reading, expectations for behaviour, and the way pupils talk about the school’s values give the impression of a school that wants children to feel safe, known, and taken seriously as learners. In a small setting, that combination can be particularly effective, provided families are comfortable with a smaller cohort and a village-school scale of peer group.

Orston’s most recent Key Stage 2 performance data (as reflected) is exceptionally strong. In 2024, 85.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 38.67% achieved greater depth across reading, writing and mathematics, far above the England average of 8%.

Scaled scores are also high: reading 109, mathematics 109, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 110. Science outcomes are similarly strong, with 100% reaching the expected standard.

On the FindMySchool ranking methodology (based on official outcomes data), Orston ranks 758th in England and 7th in Nottingham for primary performance. This places it well above England average, within the top 10% of primary schools in England.

Parents comparing local options will find it useful to use the FindMySchool Local Hub Comparison Tool to view these outcomes alongside other nearby schools in Nottinghamshire on a like-for-like basis, especially if you are balancing travel time against performance.

The curriculum story here is shaped by clarity and sequencing. The school has worked to define the knowledge and vocabulary pupils should learn across subjects, and to order learning so that concepts build logically over time. Reading stands out as a key strength, with daily phonics for younger pupils and book choices matched to pupils’ developing sounds knowledge, a structure that typically helps children gain confidence quickly as early readers.

Classroom checking and retrieval also feature prominently. Regular questioning and recap are used to help pupils remember what they have learned, and to help teachers decide the next steps. This matters in a small primary because mixed strengths can show up sharply in a single class cohort, and the school’s approach is geared towards spotting gaps early and responding.

A realistic nuance is that consistency across foundation subjects can be harder to sustain than in core areas. External review highlighted that in some foundation subjects, activities did not always line up cleanly with the intended knowledge sequence, which is a common challenge when schools revise curriculum planning and embed it across all subjects and year groups.

For families thinking ahead to Year 7, Orston sits within the Nottinghamshire secondary planning system where “linked secondary school” information is used for orientation. In Rushcliffe, Orston Primary School is listed with Toot Hill School as its linked secondary school.

In practice, families should treat this as a planning anchor rather than a guarantee. Secondary transfer depends on admissions criteria, catchment priority, and parental preference. The most practical step is to use Nottinghamshire’s catchment and school search tools early, then sense-check travel logistics and after-school arrangements well before Year 6.

Admission is coordinated through Nottinghamshire County Council rather than directly through the school, including standard Reception entry and in-year applications.

Demand, based on the most recent dataset admissions snapshot for primary entry, is clearly above supply. There were 59 applications for 26 offers, with the school recorded as oversubscribed and a subscription proportion of 2.27 applications per place. This is not an extreme level of competition by urban standards, but for a small rural primary it is significant and can make outcomes sensitive to small changes in local demographics.

For September 2026 Reception entry in Nottinghamshire, the closing date is 15 January 2026, with offers issued on 16 April 2026. Parents who are relying on distance should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their home-to-school measurement carefully, then compare it with historic patterns where available, and keep contingency schools on the application list.

The published admission number (PAN) is 25 for Reception.

Safeguarding is treated as a non-negotiable baseline, with clear staff training and a culture where concerns are acted on quickly. Pupils report feeling safe, and bullying is described as uncommon, with practical reporting routes such as worry boxes used in classrooms.

Pastoral strength also shows up in pupil leadership and personal development, including roles such as school council participation and wider responsibilities that encourage pupils to practise being articulate, considerate, and community-minded. The approach to diversity and British values is integrated into pupils’ day-to-day understanding rather than sitting as a one-off theme.

For families, the implication is reassuring: children who want structure and fairness tend to do well, and children who need a dependable adult response to concerns are likely to feel supported. If a child needs intensive specialist provision, the school positions itself as inclusive but mainstream, and parents should discuss needs early so the right support planning can happen.

The extracurricular picture is strongest when understood as termly and responsive. Clubs listed by the school include Snack & Sing Choir, Little Voices Choir, Lego Club, Cooking Club, Drumba, Recorder Club, Spanish Club, French Club, plus Yoga and Mindfulness.

The best way to interpret this is through an Example, Evidence, Implication lens. Example: Music and performance appear to be a visible strand. Evidence: two separate choir options plus recorder and rhythm-based activities. Implication: pupils who gain confidence through performance, routine practice, and group participation should find structured opportunities beyond lessons.

There is also a practical, village-school advantage here. Community involvement has historically supported facilities development, including the 2014 classroom build, and the grounds include play and outdoor areas referenced in the school’s historical account. For children who learn best with a mix of classroom focus and outdoor activity, that matters.

A final nuance: earlier external review noted that pupils wanted a wider choice of activities, which suggests the school has had to work at breadth, not just quality, as it develops provision over time. The current published club list suggests the menu has expanded, though it will vary by term and staffing.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still plan for the usual associated costs, including uniform, trips, and optional paid extras.

The school day runs with pupils able to enter from 8:45am, the bell at 8:55am, and the day ending at 3:25pm. Wraparound provision includes breakfast and after-school care from 7:45am to 8:55am, and 3:25pm to 6:00pm. A published wraparound information sheet lists session pricing at £6.00 per breakfast club session and £11.00 per after-school session.

Transport is a realistic consideration in this area. Elton & Orston rail station exists nearby but is described by the rail operator as having a very sparse service, with more frequent rail options at Bottesford or Aslockton. Local bus links include the Centrebus 833 route running via Orston between Bingham and Aslockton and surrounding villages, which can help older siblings or family logistics depending on stop locations and timings.

• Competition for places. With 59 applications for 26 offers in the most recent dataset snapshot, admission is not guaranteed even in a small village setting. Have a realistic second choice and confirm your application is submitted on time.

• Small-school scale. Capacity is 175, which can be a strength for community and consistency, but it also means fewer pupils per year group and fewer “parallel” friendship groups. This suits some children very well and can feel limiting for others.

• Curriculum consistency in non-core subjects. External review highlighted that in some foundation subjects, lesson activities did not always support the intended curriculum knowledge as closely as they should. Families who care about breadth as much as results should explore how the school is strengthening this area.

• Rural logistics. Transport options exist, but rail frequency at the nearest station is limited and many families will rely on car travel or specific bus routes.

Orston Primary School combines village-school relationships with unusually strong end-of-primary results, backed by calm behaviour and a structured approach to reading and classroom learning. It suits families who want a high-performing state primary with wraparound care available, and who are comfortable with a smaller cohort and rural logistics. The key hurdle is securing a place, so families should plan admissions carefully and keep options open while shortlisting.