Huby CofE Primary School Review 2026, small village primary with high KS2 outcomes and strong wraparound care

A small Church of England primary where the numbers are hard to ignore. In 2024, 84% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. A striking 41% reached the higher standard, compared with 8% across England. That combination, strong basics plus depth for high attainers, suggests a school that stretches pupils rather than simply getting them over the line.

The setting feels purpose-built for village life. The main building dates from 1967 and the site includes extensive playing fields, a wildlife garden and an open-air swimming pool, all of which give staff plenty of space for outdoor learning and sport.

Leadership is currently led by Donna Sandbach, who is clear about a school culture grounded in Christian values, with friendship, respect, perseverance and courage used as everyday reference points rather than abstract slogans.

This is a small school that leans into belonging. New Reception children are paired with a buddy, a simple idea that matters in a community setting where children often know each other outside school, but still need help settling into routines and expectations.

The Church of England identity shows up in daily language and priorities. The school’s stated vision places learning, kindness and respect at the centre, framed by the Colossians 3:23 reference used throughout school communications. The same page also sets out the four Christian values, friendship, respect, perseverance and courage, which are then reinforced through structures such as Values Champions.

Leadership has changed recently. The current headteacher, Donna Sandbach, is listed on the school’s staff page, and school newsletters from early September 2024 are written by Mrs Sandbach in the context of her first week in post.

A final note on scale. The school capacity is 105 and the age range spans 3 to 11, so pupils are known well by staff and the school can act quickly when a child needs support, but families should also expect mixed-age experiences in places, particularly around early years and small cohorts.

The headline KS2 picture is strong in both attainment and depth.

• Expected standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 84% in 2024, compared with 62% across England.

• Higher standard (greater depth combined): 41% in 2024, compared with 8% across England.

Scaled scores add detail: reading at 110, mathematics at 107, and grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) at 106. These are all comfortably above the typical benchmark of 100.

In England, the school sits above average and comfortably within the top quarter of primary schools. Ranked 2,319th in England and 16th in York for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), it performs strongly both nationally and within its local area.

Parents comparing several schools in the York and North Yorkshire area can use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages and Comparison Tool to line these measures up side by side, especially the combined expected standard and the higher standard figures, which often tell a different story about stretch for high attainers.

The most recent inspection evidence points to consistent classroom practice, with teachers using strong subject knowledge and well-chosen activities to deliver an ambitious curriculum. Regular checks for understanding are used to identify gaps and misconceptions, which matters in a small school where the range of starting points can be wide even within a single class.

Early reading is a clear priority. Staff training in phonics and the matching of home reading books to the sounds pupils have learned are practical choices that tend to show up later in comprehension and writing stamina.

The one substantive improvement point is also worth taking seriously. In a small number of subjects, content was not sequenced logically enough to build knowledge over time. For families, this is a good question for an open event: which subjects are being tightened up, and how leaders are checking that sequencing is consistent across the whole curriculum.

As a village primary, most families will be thinking about two transitions: Nursery to Reception, and Year 6 to secondary.

Nursery to Reception

The school offers a governor-led nursery for 3 and 4-year-olds, delivered by early years practitioners, and children learn alongside Reception within the early years setting. Nursery admission does not guarantee a Reception place, and Reception entry is managed through the local authority admissions route, so families should treat nursery as valuable early provision rather than a guaranteed pathway.

Year 6 to secondary

North Yorkshire uses catchment areas and coordinated admissions for secondary transfer, and families should use the council’s catchment mapping tools to confirm their designated secondary options. Because secondary pathways can change with policy reviews and catchment adjustments, it is sensible to verify the current position directly with the local authority before making housing decisions.

This is a state school, so there are no tuition fees. Reception places are coordinated through North Yorkshire, with the main application window for September 2026 entry opening on 12 October 2025 and closing on 15 January 2026.

The school’s admissions page also publishes a practical capacity marker: a published admission number of 15 for children entering the early years foundation stage in 2025 to 2026.

Demand indicators point to competition at the early years entry point. The most recent recorded Reception admissions cycle shows 20 applications for 10 offers, which aligns with the school’s local reputation and small scale. Families should apply on time and keep expectations realistic if they are outside the priority criteria.

For families who want to see the odds clearly, FindMySchool’s Map Search is useful for checking your exact position relative to the school, then combining that with the admissions criteria used by the local authority in the relevant year.

The school links pastoral care to values and routines. Structures such as Values Champions, pupil leaders, and a school council fundraising for local charities are not just enrichment, they are also a way of giving children responsibility in an age-appropriate way.

Support for pupils with additional needs is a notable strength. The inspection evidence describes quick identification of needs on entry and high expectations for pupils with SEND, with families reporting supportive handling of the identification process.

Safeguarding is treated as a core operational priority, with published safeguarding documentation and clear governance oversight.

For a small primary, extracurricular detail is usefully specific. A recent clubs list includes French Club, Year 6 SATs Club, York City Football (Key Stage 2), Sports Club, and Key Stage 2 Rocket Ball.

Outdoor learning also features strongly in school communications. For example, pupils in Key Stage 1 and lower Key Stage 2 have taken part in Forest Quest sessions, and the physical site offers playing fields, a wildlife garden, outdoor play equipment, and an open-air swimming pool, which together create plenty of scope for sport, nature work, and practical science.

Educational visits add breadth. Recent inspection evidence references trips to a power station, a Roman village and a local museum, which is the sort of curriculum-linked enrichment that works well in a school with small class groups and strong community support.

Wraparound care is a genuine strength here, and unusually transparent. Huby Herons runs during term time 07:45 to 08:45 and 15:30 to 17:30, with breakfast included in the morning session and a snack offered after school. Fees are published, for example £5.00 for the morning session, and tiered pricing in the afternoon depending on pickup time.

Nursery sessions are offered between 08:45 and 15:30 as part of the governor-led nursery, with funded early education for eligible children explained on the nursery page. For nursery fee details, the school directs families to its nursery terms and conditions.

Open events appear to follow an autumn pattern. The school published a Reception 2026 starters open evening on Thursday 9 October 2025, 15:45 to 17:00, suggesting that early autumn is the key window for prospective families. Dates can vary year to year, so it is best to confirm the latest schedule via the school’s news and events updates.

• Small-school constraints. With a capacity of 105 and a relatively small number of classes, cohort size can shape friendship groups and class dynamics. This suits many children, but families looking for very broad peer groups may prefer a larger primary.

• Competition at early years entry. A small published admission number and evidence of oversubscription mean the limiting factor is getting in, not what happens once you have a place. Apply early and be realistic about criteria.

• Curriculum sequencing still being tightened. External review evidence flags that a small number of subjects were not sequenced as logically as they could be. Ask what has changed since the last inspection, and how leaders are checking consistency across all subjects.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. The governor-led nursery is a strong offer, but it is not an automatic route into Reception, so plan admissions accordingly.

Huby CofE Primary School is a high-performing village primary with real depth at Key Stage 2, strong early reading practice, and wraparound care that is unusually clear and practical for working families. It suits families who want a small school feel, Christian values embedded in day-to-day culture, and strong academic outcomes without sacrificing outdoor learning and clubs. Securing a place is where the difficulty lies, particularly at early years entry.