Best primary schools in York (2026)

York has 29 ranked primary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Knavesmire Primary School, in the top 5% in England. The average reading, writing & maths here in 2025 was 59%, against 62% for England. 2 are in England's top 10%, and 3 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

Filter and sort these schools → Find an area to live near them

Rank	School	Reading, writing & maths (2023–2025 average)	Reading, writing & maths 2025	Higher standard	Ofsted
1 Top 5% in England	Knavesmire Primary School York	86%	84%	21%	Outstanding
2 Top 6% in England	Hempland Primary School York	81%	77%	16%	Report card
3 Top 13% in England	Dringhouses Primary School York	76%	70%	15%	Good
4 Top 14% in England	St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic Voluntary Academy York · Roman Catholic	75%	75%	0%	Good
5 Top 18% in England	Scarcroft Primary School York	73%	75%	19%	Good
6 Top 18% in England	Clifton With Rawcliffe Primary School York	76%	78%	12%	Not judged
7 Top 28% in England	Osbaldwick Primary Academy York	67%	60%	12%	Not judged
8 Top 32% in England	St Lawrence's Church of England Primary School York · Church of England	69%	61%	6%	Good
9 Top 33% in England	Woodthorpe Primary School York	65%	69%	16%	Outstanding
10 Top 34% in England	Park Grove Primary Academy York	67%	65%	8%	Report card
11 Top 36% in England	Acomb Primary School York	65%	55%	14%	Outstanding
12 Top 37% in England	St Oswald's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School York · Church of England	66%	72%	17%	No rating
13 Top 39% in England	Badger Hill Primary Academy York	68%	73%	7%	No rating
14 Top 43% in England	St George's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic Voluntary Academy York · Roman Catholic	65%	72%	0%	No rating
15 Top 45% in England	St Paul's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School York · Church of England	63%	54%	13%	No rating
16 Top 47% in England	Carr Junior School York	63%	64%	10%	Good
17 Top 49% in England	Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Primary School - a Catholic Voluntary Academy York · Roman Catholic	63%	61%	0%	Good
18 Bottom 50% in England	Fishergate Primary School York	62%	57%	10%	No rating
19 Bottom 44% in England	Poppleton Road Primary School York	58%	64%	12%	Report card
20 Bottom 26% in England	Tang Hall Primary Academy York	54%	55%	3%	Good
21 Bottom 22% in England	Haxby Road Primary Academy York	49%	50%	17%	No rating
22 Bottom 19% in England	Heworth Church of England Primary School York · Church of England	48%	37%	0%	No rating
23 Bottom 17% in England	Lakeside Primary Academy York	50%	40%	0%	No rating
24 Bottom 9% in England	Hob Moor Community Primary Academy York	44%	48%	2%	No rating
25 Bottom 8% in England	Burton Green Primary School York	42%	37%	0%	No rating
26 Bottom 6% in England	St Aelred's Catholic Primary School - a Catholic Voluntary Academy York · Roman Catholic	41%	52%	0%	Good
27 Bottom 5% in England	Clifton Green Primary School York	38%	51%	4%	Good
28 Bottom 4% in England	Westfield Primary Community School York	36%	41%	5%	Good
29 Bottom 1% in England	Saint Barnabas Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School York · Church of England	16%	0%	0%	Not judged

Other towns in North Yorkshire

Also see

Questions

What is the best primary school in York?

On exam results over the last three years, Knavesmire Primary School is the top-ranked primary school in York, in the top 5% 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.