Best primary schools in Retford (2026)
Retford has 6 ranked primary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Bracken Lane Primary Academy, in the top 27% in England. The average reading, writing & maths here in 2025 was 50%, against 62% for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 0 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
| Rank | School | Reading, writing & maths (2023–2025 average) | Reading, writing & maths 2025 | Trend | Higher standard | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 27% in England |
Bracken Lane Primary Academy Retford |
73% | 72% | 14% | No rating | |
2 Top 48% in England |
St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy Retford · Roman Catholic |
63% | 70% | 13% | No rating | |
3 Bottom 33% in England |
Thrumpton Primary Academy Retford |
57% | 61% | 4% | Report card | |
4 Bottom 30% in England |
Ordsall Primary School Retford |
56% | 58% | 1% | Good | |
5 Bottom 7% in England |
St Swithun's Church of England Primary Academy Retford · Church of England |
39% | 17% | 8% | Report card | |
6 Bottom 2% in England |
Carr Hill Primary and Nursery School Retford |
32% | 21% | 0% | Good |
Other towns in Nottinghamshire
- Arnold
- Beeston (Broxtowe)
- Bingham
- Brinsley and Underwood
- Carlton (Gedling)
- Clifton (Nottingham)
- Eastwood
- Forest Town
- Hucknall
- Keyworth
- Kirkby-in-Ashfield
- Mansfield
- Mansfield Woodhouse
- New Ollerton and Ollerton
- Newark-on-Trent
- Nottingham
- Nuthall and Watnall
- Sutton in Ashfield
- West Bridgford
- Worksop
Also see
Questions
What is the best primary school in Retford?
On exam results over the last three years, Bracken Lane Primary Academy is the top-ranked primary school in Retford, in the top 27% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.