Primary school is usually the first big step in a child’s educational journey, and their experience there can build the foundations of the rest of their academic career.
That’s why it’s so important that families find one that works well for them and their child, supporting them as they grow as an individual, and helping them fulfil their potential as a pupil.
The School Guide - an online evaluation resource for parents - has created a ranking of state primary school’s across England to help parents see what schools in their area have to offer, giving them a special ‘star rating’ out of five. This rating takes into account a whole range of factors sourced from official government data, which include the percentages of pupils performing at the expected levels in reading, writing, and maths in their SAT exams.
It also factors in the percentage of children found to be performing at a higher level, as well as Ofsted inspection ratings. All of the schools in the upper echelons of the list were rated either ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’, meaning inspectors found the quality of education provided, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding all to be excellent. Here were the 15 primary schools from across England that took out the coveted top spots in School Guide’s 2024 league table:
9. The Raleigh School
The Raleigh is a primary school in West Horsley, Surrey. It has 436 children on its roll. According to School Guide’s data, most recently 95% of its pupils who sat their SAT exams met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, while 42% were performing at a higher level. It is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. | Google
10. Skelton School
This is a primary school in Skelton, Cumbria. It is another smaller, village school with a roll size of just 82. According to School Guide’s data, most recently 89% of its pupils who sat their SAT exams met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, while 44% were performing at a higher level. It is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. | Google
11. Evelyn Street Primary Academy and Nursery
This is a primary school in Warrington, Cheshire, with 345 children on its roll. According to School Guide’s data, most recently 96% of its pupils who sat their SAT exams met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, while 40% were performing at a higher level. It is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. | Google
12. St Ives Primary & Nursery School
St Ives is a primary school in St Ives, Dorset, with approximately 258 pupils. According to School Guide’s data, most recently 94% of its pupils who sat their SAT exams met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, while 41% were performing at a higher level. It is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. | Google