Ramsden Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining village primary with outdoor learning at its core

A long-established village primary with a clear sense of identity and a practical focus on helping children feel safe, settled, and ready to learn. The school’s setting is part of its story; records indicate the original building dates to 1831, associated with Robert Ramsden as Lord of the Manor, which helps explain the school’s long-standing place in local life.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (10 to 11 May 2023) judged the school Good overall, with Good ratings across Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Early Years.

Academically, 2024 outcomes are strong. At key stage 2, 80% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 44% achieved greater depth, far above the England benchmark of 8%.

Demand is real. For the Reception entry route, 87 applications competed for 29 offers, which is around 3 applications per place. That scale of competition shapes the admissions reality for local families.

This is a school that puts routines and relationships first. The tone described in the latest inspection is calm and orderly, with staff visible and attentive at the start of the day, and pupils reporting that they feel safe and well looked after.

A distinctive feature is the school’s outdoor learning offer. Formal reporting highlights a substantial woodland area used for structured outdoor learning, alongside an amphitheatre used for productions. That combination tends to suit pupils who learn best when classroom work is regularly reinforced through practical activity and performance.

The school also uses recognisable roles and responsibilities to build belonging. Pupils value badges for leadership and achievement, and older pupils are expected to look out for younger peers. The inspection report even notes a specific pupil identity label used in school culture, which signals that the school leans into community language rather than treating it as a generic primary.

Leadership information published by the school lists Mr Christopher Wilson as Headteacher, with Miss Francesca Campbell as Acting Deputy Headteacher. The headteacher’s published welcome also frames the school’s job as preparing children for a fast-changing world of work, not only for the next test or transition point.

Ramsden’s 2024 key stage 2 picture is clearly above England averages in multiple areas.

The headline combined measure, reading, writing and mathematics at the expected standard, sits at 80%, compared with an England average of 62%. Science is also notably high at 96% at the expected standard, against an England figure of 82%.

Scaled scores are strong, reading 108 and mathematics 109, with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 111. These are the kinds of figures typically associated with cohorts who are well prepared for secondary transition, particularly in core literacy and numeracy.

At the higher standard, Ramsden stands out. 44% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with 8% across England. For families with high-attaining pupils, that suggests consistent stretch, not just secure basics.

In FindMySchool’s primary performance ranking (based on official results data), Ramsden is ranked 850th in England and 1st locally in the Worksop area. This places it well above England average, within the top 10% of schools in England, and in practice closer to the top 6% by rank position.

Parents comparing local options may find it helpful to use the FindMySchool local hub and comparison tools to view outcomes side by side across nearby primaries, especially where cohorts are small and single-year results can fluctuate.

The curriculum is planned to cover the full national curriculum, with a strong emphasis on building knowledge over time. The May 2023 inspection describes significant work on curriculum development across many subjects, with clear identification of the knowledge and skills pupils should learn in core areas and several foundation subjects.

Reading is a particular strength in the official narrative. Children begin learning to read in Reception, phonics teaching is described as well understood by staff, and reading books are closely matched to the sounds pupils have learned, which supports fluency.

On the school’s published curriculum information, phonics is delivered using Twinkl Phonics (noted as an accredited scheme), and swimming is built into key stage 2 provision on a weekly basis from September to February. These details matter because they indicate planned entitlement rather than optional enrichment that depends on year group or staffing.

A key improvement priority from the most recent inspection is consistency in a minority of foundation subjects. The report indicates that in some areas, essential knowledge is not always defined precisely enough, and newer subject leaders need time and training to monitor impact and ensure consistent delivery across year groups.

As a 3 to 11 primary, the main transition point is Year 6 to Year 7. For most families, the practical question is less about a “destination list” and more about how well a primary sets children up for the next stage. Ramsden’s strong core outcomes in 2024, particularly the high proportion meeting expected standards and the unusually strong higher standard figure, suggest pupils tend to leave with secure foundations in literacy and mathematics.

For Nottinghamshire families, secondary allocation varies by area, distance, and published admissions criteria. Families considering Ramsden should review local secondary options early, then use Nottinghamshire’s admissions guidance alongside the FindMySchool map tools to sanity-check travel time and practicality for daily routines.

Ramsden is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Entry is shaped by local authority admissions processes for Reception, alongside school-level information for nursery entry.

For September 2026 Reception entry in Nottinghamshire, the published timeline is: applications open from 03 November 2025, the closing date is 15 January 2026, and National Offer Day is 16 April 2026.

Demand indicators for the Reception entry route show why early planning matters. 87 applications for 29 offers indicates meaningful competition, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed on this entry route. In practical terms, families should assume that proximity and oversubscription criteria will matter, and avoid relying on a late application.

Nursery provision is available from age 3, branded on the school website as Little Red Ramsden Hoods Nursery, with sessions running mornings, afternoons, or as a full-day entitlement pattern for eligible families. Nursery places are typically managed directly with the school, and availability can change across the year as families move, defer, or adjust hours.

The pastoral model is unusually concrete for a primary. The May 2023 inspection describes pastoral care as a strength, including a named support space called “the hive” for pupils who are anxious or worried. The report also links wellbeing work to structured, supervised interactions, including caring for school animals as a way to help pupils talk about problems and practise responsibility.

The school’s own staffing information aligns with that emphasis. It lists a Family Wellbeing and Emotional Literacy lead, and the school also publishes information about Emotional Literacy Support Assistant provision, describing ELSA support for pupils who need targeted help to remove barriers to learning.

Safeguarding is treated seriously in the official evidence. The latest inspection confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective, with detailed record-keeping and close work with external agencies when needed.

Extracurricular provision is one of the clearest strengths in the school’s published information, with a club list that goes well beyond the usual “sports and craft” headline. After-school clubs are described as running daily from 3.00pm to 4.00pm (unless stated otherwise), and the named options include Choir, Craft Club, STEM Club, Football, Multiskills, Dodgeball, Cooking, Homework Club, Drama Club, Tag Rugby, Sign Language, Maypole, Table Tennis, Gardening, and Bushcraft.

That variety has two implications for families. First, it widens access. A child who is not sport-focused can still find a structured after-school identity through STEM, drama, gardening, or sign language. Second, it supports working patterns, although families should distinguish between structured clubs and a full wraparound childcare offer, as these are not the same thing.

Sports participation is also framed as competitive locally, with the school reporting success through the School Games Award (Gold noted on its sports premium page). For pupils who thrive on fixtures and team structure, that tends to translate into a positive participation culture rather than occasional enrichment.

The published school day runs from 8.30am to 3.00pm. Breakfast club opens at 7:30am and includes breakfast and activities, priced at £4.00 per session.

Nursery sessions are published as 8:20am to 11:20am (morning) and 12:20pm to 3:20pm (afternoon), with an all-day pattern aligned to the 30 hours entitlement for eligible families.

For travel, Worksop is the nearest main rail hub for many families in the area. Worksop station is the local National Rail station serving the town, and is a common anchor point for commuting patterns. For day-to-day school runs, most families will focus on walking routes, local roads, and parking patterns around the village, which are best assessed at school start and finish times.

• Competition for Reception places. With 87 applications for 29 offers on the Reception entry route, admission can be a limiting factor. Families should plan around the Nottinghamshire application timeline and submit on time.

• Curriculum consistency is still being tightened in some subjects. The most recent inspection highlights that a minority of foundation subjects need clearer identification of essential knowledge and more consistent delivery across year groups, supported by subject leader training and time.

• Clubs versus wraparound care. After-school clubs are extensive and run daily to 4.00pm, but clubs are not the same as guaranteed childcare. Families who need later pick-up should confirm what is available beyond clubs.

• Early years hours are structured. Nursery session times are clearly defined; this suits many families, but those needing longer wraparound hours should check how the timetable aligns with working patterns.

Ramsden Primary School is a high-attaining, community-rooted primary where routines, pastoral support, and outdoor learning are central rather than decorative. Results indicate strong foundations at key stage 2, and the school’s club programme is unusually broad for a village primary. The main challenge is securing a place in Reception in a competitive year.

Best suited to families who want a structured, calm primary with strong academic outcomes, practical pastoral support, and regular enrichment through clubs and outdoor learning, and who can plan early around admissions timelines.