Best Primary Schools in York 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 49 schools across York. Updated with 2025–26 data.

York has 49 open primary schools. Of the 49 with a published Ofsted inspection, 4 (8%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 92% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Skelton Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in York follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

49
Total schools
4
Outstanding (historic grade)
8%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
63.8%
Avg KS2 SATs
47.6
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Skelton Primary School
Primary
 Good 90 View school
🥈 Knavesmire Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 90 View school
🥉 Lord Deramore's Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
4. Ralph Butterfield Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
5. Woodthorpe Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 82 View school
6. Dunnington Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
7. Bishopthorpe Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
8. Wigginton Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
9. Hempland Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
10. Scarcroft Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
11. St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 78 View school
12. St Mary's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
13. Badger Hill Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 77 View school
14. Archbishop of York's CofE Junior School, Bishopthorpe
Primary
 Good 77 View school
15. St Oswald's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
16. St George's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic Voluntary Academy
Primary
 Good 76 View school
17. Elvington Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
18. Dringhouses Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
19. Acomb Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 75 View school
20. Wheldrake with Thorganby Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for York

Best primary schools in YorkTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in YorkTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in YorkPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in YorkYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in North YorkshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LeedsCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WakefieldCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in East Riding of YorkshireCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in York?
There are 49 open primary schools in York (closed schools are excluded). 4 of the 49 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in York?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in York is Skelton Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in York?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in York?
Primary and secondary applications in York are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the York council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.