Ben Rhydding Primary School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Ben Rhydding Primary School.
Ben Rhydding Primary School, Ilkley
Ben Rhydding Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Ilkley. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 8 schools in Ilkley with published results, and 4,602nd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bradford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Ben Rhydding Primary School in detail
Ben Rhydding Primary School in its own words
The school runs after-school care.
On phones, the school says: "The phone must be handed in to the office at the beginning of the school day and collected at the end of the school day."
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Ben Rhydding Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Bradford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 90% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Ben Rhydding Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 36 families put Ben Rhydding Primary School as their first choice and 113 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 7 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Ben Rhydding Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ben Rhydding Primary School are Ben Rhydding Primary School (under 0.1 miles); The Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 89% reading, 79% maths); Ashlands Primary School (0.5 miles, 83% reading, 74% maths); and All Saints' CofE Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 93% reading, 89% maths).
Ben Rhydding Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Ben Rhydding Primary SchoolThe Sacred Heart Catholic Primary SchoolAshlands Primary SchoolAll Saints' CofE Primary School
Who goes there
5.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 20 pupils (10.5%) received SEN support and 5 (2.6%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Ben Rhydding Station, about 240 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bolling Rd Margerison Road (adjacent), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Ben Rhydding Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 51 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bradford (404).
Suspensions and exclusions
Ben Rhydding 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; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from July 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Ben Rhydding Primary School creates a caring, kind environment where children thrive. Staff go above and beyond to support every pupil, and strong teaching in reading ensures children become confident, enthusiastic readers. The school teaches children to be respectful, empathetic and engaged with their local community.
Key Strengths
- Excellent pupil behaviour and attitudes to learning with a thirst for knowledge
- High-quality teaching of reading with strong published outcomes and confident readers
- Well-resourced early years setting with precise planning that prepares children for the next stage
- Strong wider curriculum teaching pupils about healthy relationships, mental health and community responsibility
- Supportive school culture where staff are proud to work and pupils' individuality is celebrated
Areas for Improvement
- Limited opportunities for pupils to practise sculpture work in art, reducing breadth of knowledge
- Assessment in foundation subjects is underdeveloped, meaning staff sometimes miss when pupils lack depth of understanding
- Missed opportunities in some lessons to check what pupils have understood and remembered, particularly in foundation subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening club, singing at care home, visits to local activity centres, nature reserves, museums and theatre, litter picking, buddy system for older pupils
Ben Rhydding Primary School continues to be a good school where pupils are taught to show empathy, curiosity and courage. Staff are ambitious for every pupil's success and children feel safe, happy and love to learn.
At a Glance
5.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 90% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 69% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 79% to 72% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.1
Avg class size
23.3
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ben Rhydding Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Ben Rhydding Primary School.
- Moor Time Holiday Club410m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ben Rhydding Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ben Rhydding Primary School is in Bradford; for families living there:
- Bradford's school travel policy: Home to school travel and transport policy for children of compulsory school age
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ben Rhydding Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
187 pupils
210 places
23 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Ilkley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Ilkley
Across Bradford council
Places available
7,475
Applications
6,301
Got 1st preference
92.3%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Bradford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
20
SEN Support
5
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
190
Total Pupils
99
Boys
91
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
19.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,903
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,175
Per pupil
£1036k
Total funding
£20k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.2%
Overall absence
1.2%
Persistent absence
172
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Ben Rhydding Primary School
What are SATs results like at Ben Rhydding Primary School?
Of the pupils at Ben Rhydding Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 86% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is Ben Rhydding Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ben Rhydding Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ben Rhydding Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Ben Rhydding Primary School is oversubscribed, Bradford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ben Rhydding Primary School?
Ben Rhydding Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Ben Rhydding Primary School?
Classes at Ben Rhydding Primary School average 27.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ben Rhydding Primary School?
Ben Rhydding Primary School has around 190 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ben Rhydding Primary School?
2.2% of sessions were missed at Ben Rhydding Primary School in 2024/25. 1.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ben Rhydding Primary School?
Apply through Bradford's coordinated admissions process, naming Ben Rhydding 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.
Does Ben Rhydding Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Ben Rhydding Primary School: Moor Time Holiday Club (410m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
Where is Ben Rhydding Primary School?
Ben Rhydding Primary School is at Bolling Road, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 8QH.