Naburn Church of England Primary School Review 2026: Small rural primary with elite KS2 outcomes

A village primary with a distinctly local feel, this is the sort of school where year groups are small enough for staff to know families well, and where school life links naturally to church and community events. The current academy opened in autumn 2023 as part of The Education Alliance trust; the head teacher is Mrs Kate Durham, who joined in September 2023.

On academic outcomes, the data are striking. In 2024, 100% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. The “greater depth” picture is also unusually strong for a small primary, with 55.67% achieving the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined (England average: 8%). That performance underpins a FindMySchool ranking of 126th in England and 2nd locally in York for primary outcomes.

Parents should read the inspection context carefully. The most recent published Ofsted inspection (for the predecessor school that closed when the academy opened) judged the school Requires Improvement following the inspection on 25 April 2023, with Behaviour and attitudes graded Good and the other inspected areas graded Requires Improvement.

This is a Church of England primary where the faith element is visible rather than tokenistic. The school’s Christian vision is explicitly linked to the “rainbow” theme from Genesis, and that idea shows up in how the school talks about belonging, care, and responsibility. A recent SIAMS inspection (published in March 2025) presents the school as living up to its foundation as a church school and building pupils’ character alongside learning.

Size shapes the atmosphere. With a modest capacity and small cohorts, day-to-day routines tend to feel personal, and leadership communication can be direct because there are fewer layers between families and decision-making. That can suit children who benefit from consistency, predictable relationships, and being well known by adults across the building. It can also feel limiting for pupils who crave a very wide peer group, especially in later primary years.

The school’s history is an active part of its identity. The current building dates to 1872, when the village “National School” opened, and the school still references original documents and artefacts from early years of operation. A major point of pride is the refurbished library, officially opened in September 2024.

Naburn’s 2024 Key Stage 2 outcomes place it among the highest-performing primaries in England on headline measures.

Here is what the latest published data show for Year 6 (2024):

• Expected standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 100%, compared with an England average of 62%

• Higher standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 55.67%, compared with an England average of 8%

• Average scaled scores: Reading 111, Maths 111, GPS 112 (total combined score 334)

For parents comparing schools locally, rankings provide another lens. Naburn is ranked 126th in England and 2nd in York for primary outcomes (FindMySchool proprietary ranking based on official data). This places it among the highest-performing in England (top 2%).

Two practical implications follow from results at this level. First, challenge matters: pupils who already learn quickly will generally need depth and extension rather than repetition. Second, small schools with standout results often rely on strong consistency in teaching and curriculum planning, because there is less capacity to absorb disruption from staffing changes.

The curriculum needs to work hard in a small setting. When cohort sizes are small, mixed-age groupings, careful sequencing, and clear expectations make the difference between “small and cosy” and “small but stretched.” Official assessments in the pre-academy period highlighted improvement work in core subjects, and parents should expect the current leadership to keep a close focus on curriculum clarity across foundation subjects as well as English and maths.

What does this look like in practice for families? Expect a primary where reading, writing, maths, and spelling, punctuation and grammar are treated seriously, with clear routines and adult oversight. The very strong scaled scores suggest pupils are not only meeting the standard, but doing so securely. For children who like structure and clear feedback, that can feel reassuring.

A further feature in the school’s own language is outdoor learning, including a programme described as “Future Forest.” In a village context, this can be an effective way to build vocabulary, science understanding, and confidence, especially for younger pupils and those who learn best through practical experiences.

As a York primary, transition is normally shaped by the City of York secondary landscape, with most families moving to local comprehensive schools, and a smaller number considering selective or faith-based routes depending on where they live and their preferences.

Because this school is small, it is especially worth asking how transition is handled socially as well as academically. In many small primaries, Year 6 pupils take on significant responsibility, and then move into much larger settings where they are “one of many.” The best preparation usually includes structured liaison with receiving secondaries, explicit work on independence (organisation, routines, travel), and pastoral support around friendship changes.

Families should also look at the school’s communications about Year 6 readiness, including how it approaches the statutory tests and how it supports pupils who find exams stressful. A small cohort can be a real advantage here, because staff can often spot concerns early and respond quickly.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated through the local authority process, with the academy trust acting as admissions authority. The school’s published admission number (PAN) is 12 for 2025 to 2026 and for 2026 to 2027.

For Reception entry in September 2026, the school sets out a clear timeline:

• Applications open 12 September 2025

• Deadline 15 January 2026

• National Offer Day 16 April 2026

• Appeals paperwork deadline 15 May 2026, with appeals heard June to July 2026

Demand data suggests real competition for places, even though the absolute numbers are small. For the latest recorded cycle there were 18 applications for 10 offers, and the school is classified as oversubscribed. That is roughly 1.8 applications per place, which is meaningful pressure in a setting where one additional family can shift outcomes.

A practical tip: families trying to short-list sensibly should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to sense-check travel time and day-to-day logistics, then use the Local Hub Comparison Tool to put nearby primaries’ outcomes side-by-side without relying on anecdotes.

A small primary’s pastoral strength is usually relational consistency, children see the same adults regularly, and staff often notice changes in behaviour quickly. The school also sets out specific safeguarding roles, including leadership responsibility for safeguarding and a named deputy safeguarding lead, which is a reassuring baseline for parents assessing systems and accountability.

In Church schools, wellbeing support is often linked to values language and collective worship themes, which can help children develop vocabulary for feelings and friendship issues. Parents should look for practical mechanisms behind the values, for example, how concerns are raised, how bullying is recorded and followed up, and what the escalation route is if a family feels unheard.

Extracurricular provision matters more than it used to, especially for small schools. Clubs give pupils a wider social mix than their class group, and they create additional reasons to feel confident at school.

Naburn’s published clubs programme shows named activities that are specific rather than generic. Recent examples include:

• Multi Skills (Years 1 to 6) with Total Sports

• Football (Years 2 to 6) with Total Sports

• Ukulele (KS2)

• Drawing Club (Years 1 to 4)

• Board Games Club (Years 1 to 6)

• Reading Book Club (all years)

• Film Club (Reception and Key Stage 1)

• Young Voices (KS2)

The implication for families is straightforward. If your child needs a “hook” to feel engaged, clubs like ukulele, art, or Young Voices can give them a role and identity beyond core lessons. If your child thrives on movement, Multi Skills and football provide structured energy release, which often improves focus during the school day.

The school day is published as 8.45am to 3.15pm, with the register taken at 8.50am, equating to 32.5 hours per week.

Wraparound provision is partly in place. The school runs an After School Club Monday to Thursday from 3.15pm to 5.45pm. Information about breakfast provision is not currently presented as a stable, year-round offer in the most recent pages, so families who need morning wraparound should check directly what is available for the term they intend to start.

As a village school south of York, travel tends to be car, cycle, or local bus depending on where families live. For many households, the real test is not distance but whether drop-off and pick-up fit work patterns, especially when children are in different year groups.

• Inspection context and trajectory. The latest published Ofsted inspection for the predecessor school that closed in September 2023 judged it Requires Improvement (inspection date 25 April 2023). The current academy does not yet have a published Ofsted report, so parents should focus on evidence of sustained improvement and curriculum consistency under the current leadership.

• Small cohort dynamics. Small classes can be brilliant for confidence and support, but friendship groups can feel intense because there are fewer “reset” options if relationships wobble. This is worth thinking about for sensitive children or those who need a very large peer group.

• Competition for places. Oversubscription is real, and with a PAN of 12, outcomes can change quickly from year to year. Treat any plan that depends on this school as a plan with contingencies.

• Wraparound needs. After-school provision is clear; breakfast arrangements are less clearly presented as a current standard offer. Families relying on early childcare should confirm details before committing.

Naburn Church of England Primary School combines a distinctly local village character with primary outcomes that sit in the top tier nationally. For families who want a small-school setting where staff can know pupils well, and where Christian ethos is part of daily culture, it can be an excellent fit.

It suits children who respond well to close relationships, clear routines, and a community feel. The key trade-offs are the usual ones for very small primaries: fewer peers per year group, and admissions uncertainty because a handful of applications can make the difference between an offer and a miss.