Austwick Church of England VA Primary School, Lancaster
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Lancaster. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 24 schools in Lancaster with published results, and 1st of 14,452 across England. It was 80% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North Yorkshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School in detail
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Austwick CE (VA) Primary School is a good school situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We have two mixed age classes - Class 1 includes EYFS, Year 1 and 2; Class 2 includes Years 3 and 4; Class 3 includes Years 5 and 6."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 67% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Austwick Church of England VA Primary School as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 3 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Austwick Church of England VA Primary School are Giggleswick Primary School (3.8 miles, Good, 67% reading, 89% maths); and Settle Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (4.3 miles, Good, 69% reading, 51% maths).
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Giggleswick Primary SchoolSettle Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Austwick Church of England VA Primary School (as of September 2025): 81% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 20% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (20%).
Who goes there
7.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 5 pupils (9.4%) received SEN support and 2 (3.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Staffing
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Clapham (N Yorks) Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Of The Epiphany (opposite), 300 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and other crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9).
Suspensions and exclusions
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This small school creates a nurturing environment where children genuinely enjoy learning and feel cared for. Teachers expertly manage mixed-age classes, ensuring all pupils including those with SEND make good progress in core subjects. The school enriches learning through outdoor activities and visits to places like Parliament and other cities, helping pupils understand British values and the wider world.
Key Strengths
- Strong family atmosphere with warm, caring relationships where pupils feel welcome and supported
- Well-established mathematics and English curricula with effective teaching in mixed-age classes
- Excellent personal development and well-being support, including trained pupil well-being champions
- Broad curriculum making good use of beautiful surroundings with outdoor activities like caving and rock scrambling
- Good behaviour and strong sense of responsibility among pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Foundation subject assessment systems are new - the school needs to use assessment data to identify gaps and adapt the curriculum
- Reading books for more advanced readers are not always matched to their reading level, limiting development of fluency and comprehension
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Caving, rock scrambling, walking, school council, well-being champions, librarians, sports leaders, after-school sports, film club, chess club, gardening, breakfast club, after-school club
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School is a small, friendly school where pupils thrive in a family atmosphere with warm relationships and high expectations. The school has successfully maintained good standards since its previous inspection.
At a Glance
7.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 67% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.5
Avg class size
27.0
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Austwick Church of England VA Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Austwick Church of England VA Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Austwick Church of England VA Primary School is in North Yorkshire; for families living there:
Apply to North Yorkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School
Will you get a place at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Austwick Church of England VA Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Austwick Church of England VA Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Austwick Church of England VA Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from North Yorkshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in North Yorkshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
80%
Available places
48 pupils
60 places
12 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Lancaster
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lancaster
Across North Yorkshire council
Places available
7,127
Applications
5,052
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across North Yorkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
5
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
13.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
53
Total Pupils
31
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
13.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,070
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,857
Per pupil
£446k
Total funding
£8k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.7%
Overall absence
10.6%
Persistent absence
47
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Austwick Church of England VA Primary School
What are SATs results like at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
Of the pupils at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% reached the expected standard in reading and 100% did so in maths.
What is Austwick Church of England VA Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Austwick Church of England VA Primary School is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 60 places.
How big are the classes at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
Classes at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School average 26.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School has around 53 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
4.7% of sessions were missed at Austwick Church of England VA Primary School in 2024/25. 10.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Austwick Church of England VA Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Austwick Church of England VA Primary School?
Austwick Church of England VA Primary School is at Austwick, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA2 8BN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)