Skipton, Water Street Community Primary School
Elliot Street, Skipton, BD23 1PEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Skipton, Water Street Community Primary School is a primary school in Skipton for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 376 schools in North Yorkshire. It ranks 3rd of 13 primary schools in Skipton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 February 2023, report published 28 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 February 2023
Water Street Community Primary School is a warm and welcoming school. It is at the heart of the local community. Leaders and staff have high expectations for pupils' achievement and behaviour. These are built around the school's vision to 'create bright futures'. Pupils love coming to school. One pupil summed this up by saying, 'It feels like home as everyone is welcomed.' They are well cared for by all staff. Pupils say that they are happy here and that they feel safe. Positive relationships between staff and pupils, and between pupils, are evident through the school. Leaders have created a clear behaviour policy, which pupils understand. Pupils are expected to behave well, and they usually do. Pupils say that bullying is rare. Adults deal with it when it does occur. Leaders have developed a strong offer for supporting and developing pupils' understanding and learning around mental health. Pupils know how to keep themselves healthy, both physically and mentally. They talk positively about their learning in the personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum. Parents and carers are very positive about the school. They appreciate the education and care provided. One parent said: 'The relationship between staff and the families is brilliant. It is a safe and welcoming place where all children are encouraged to shine.' This typifies the views of many.
What the school should improve
- The implementation of the curriculum varies between year groups. This is because expectations for teaching in some subject areas are not always made clear by subject leaders. This means that pupils do not always benefit from effective teaching. Leaders, including subject leaders, need to ensure that curriculum monitoring leads to coherence across all classes so that pupils benefit from a consistent teaching approach from Reception to Year 6.
- Reading books are not matched closely enough to phonic ability for some pupils. This means that some of the younger pupils are unable to read independently without adult support. Leaders should support teachers to ensure that they are selecting reading books which have the sounds that pupils know well.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
31 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
215 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near Skipton, Water Street Community Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Stephen's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, A Voluntary Academy | 0.1 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 50% met the expected standard |
| Christ Church Church of England Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | 71% met the expected standard |
| Skipton Parish Church of England Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 69% met the expected standard |
| Greatwood Community Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 77% met the expected standard |
| Carleton Endowed CofE Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | 41% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Neil Gunstone
- Phone
- 01756793026
- Address
- Elliot Street, Skipton, BD23 1PE
- Local authority
- North Yorkshire
- URN
- 121417
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.