Best Schools in Knaresborough

These schools serve pupils with particular needs, so they aren't ranked against mainstream schools on exam results. Places are usually arranged through the council, often via an Education, Health and Care plan.

The Forest SchoolAges 2-16 · Requires Improvement

Questions parents ask about schools in Knaresborough

How many schools are there in Knaresborough?

Knaresborough has 9 open schools: 7 state primary, 1 state secondary or all-through and 1 special.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Are there any Outstanding schools in Knaresborough?

None of the 9 graded schools in Knaresborough currently holds an Outstanding rating. 8 are rated Good, so 89% are Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

Source: Ofsted

Which primary schools in Knaresborough have the best SATs results?

Of the 7 primary schools in Knaresborough with 2025 Key Stage 2 results, the highest shares of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and maths were at Staveley Community Primary School (85% in reading, 77% in maths); Knaresborough St John's Church of England Primary School (80% in reading, 78% in maths); and St Mary's Primary School Knaresborough, A Voluntary Catholic Academy (84% in reading, 74% in maths). Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

Staveley Community Primary School Knaresborough St John's Church of England Primary School St Mary's Primary School Knaresborough, A Voluntary Catholic Academy

Source: DfE school performance data

Are there grammar schools in Knaresborough?

No. None of the state secondary schools in Knaresborough selects pupils by ability, so every state secondary here is comprehensive.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Do schools in Knaresborough have catchment areas?

Most state schools in Knaresborough have no fixed catchment boundary. When a school is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places on its published criteria - usually looked-after children first, then siblings, then home-to-school distance - so the practical cut-off moves each year. Each school's page here shows an estimate of its catchment radius.

How do I apply for a school place in Knaresborough?

Apply to North Yorkshire through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.