Knayton Church of England Academy
Stockton Road, Knayton, Thirsk, YO7 4ANOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Knayton Church of England Academy is a primary school in Thirsk for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 376 schools in North Yorkshire. It ranks 5th of 10 primary schools in Thirsk. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 February 2024, report published 18 April 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 February 2024
Pupils and staff thrive at this vibrant and happy school. The school has high ambitions for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff make sure that pupils' success is at the heart of everything they do and that every effort is made to meet the needs of every pupil. Staff work hard to create a family feel to the school. Pupils respond well to this and treat each other with kindness, respect and consideration. There is a real sense of community. Pupils enjoy receiving rewards for their good behaviour with 'value tokens'. Developing pupils' character is an important aspect of the school's work. Pupils have access to an extensive range of opportunities in this regard. This prepares them well to become well-rounded citizens. Pupils appreciate the important role they have in making a positive difference to their community and the world in general. They actively support charities by raising money and highlighting important causes. Pupils recently wrote a letter to the prime minister to share some of their concerns about current affairs. They were delighted to receive a response. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour around school. Pupils respond to these expectations and behave well while moving around the school and during play time. In classrooms, most pupils do well. They respond to teacher requests with enthusiasm. However, a small number do not respond in such a way and sometimes do not make the most of the valuable learning opportunities on offer.
What the school should improve
- In some foundation subjects, the substantive knowledge that pupils need to learn is not explicitly linked to underlying curriculum themes. In these subjects, pupils miss opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the connections between topics. This means that they sometimes forget the important facts they learn. Leaders should ensure that they continue to refine the curriculum so that it is consistently sequenced and implemented and that it results in pupils learning and remembering the intended content over time.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
14 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
118 pupils on roll, with places for 150
Schools near Knayton Church of England Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Kilvington Church of England Academy | 3 miles | Report card: Strong standard | 92% met the expected standard |
| Thirsk Community Primary School | 4 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 30% met the expected standard |
| South Otterington Church of England Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 53% met the expected standard |
| All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 50% met the expected standard |
| Sowerby Primary Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ELEVATE MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Abigail Clay
- Phone
- 01845537291
- Address
- Stockton Road, Knayton, Thirsk, YO7 4AN
- Local authority
- North Yorkshire
- URN
- 144429
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.