Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has closed (Thursday 30 April 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now Embsay Church of England Primary School.
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Skipton
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Skipton. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 11th-highest of the 15 schools in Skipton with published results, and 10,901st of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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 8 Oct 2026
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 84% in reading and 77% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 27 families put Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 55 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Embsay Church of England Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Skipton, Water Street Community Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths); Skipton Parish Church of England Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); and St Stephen's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, A Voluntary Academy (1.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 55% maths).
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Embsay Church of England Primary SchoolSkipton, Water Street Community Primary SchoolSkipton Parish Church of England Primary SchoolSt Stephen's Catholic Primary School and Nursery, A Voluntary Academy
What parents say
90 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 68% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (68%).
Who goes there
4.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 25 pupils (13%) received SEN support and 4 (2.1%) 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 moderate learning difficulty.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Embsay (Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway), about 560 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Laurel Croft (adjacent), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; 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 February 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school excels at teaching children to read confidently from the start, with well-chosen books matched to what pupils are learning. Pupils develop a genuine love of learning and strong values, understanding different cultures and religions while respecting differences. The school is ambitious for all children and provides plenty of opportunities for pupils to take on responsibilities and showcase their talents.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics teaching and reading programme with pupils achieving well in reading
- Clear sequencing of knowledge in mathematics, history and computing with effective teaching
- Excellent personal development curriculum covering different cultures, religions and citizenship
- Warm, respectful relationships throughout the school with good pupil behaviour
- Well-attended school clubs and enrichment activities with proud pupil participation
Areas for Improvement
- Writing curriculum needs clearer sequencing; pupils do not develop foundational writing skills effectively, including letter formation
- Inconsistent quality of pupils' written work with errors not routinely corrected
- Some pupils with SEND spend extended periods outside classrooms and do not always access quality teaching alongside their peers
- Not all subject curriculums have consistent quality or clearly set out essential knowledge pupils need to learn
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, although the school needs to ensure all pre-employment checks are made and recorded accurately in a timely manner.
Extracurricular Activities
Taekwondo, netball, choir (Young Voices performance), school performances, residential visits, trips to places of worship, fundraising for local homeless charity and partner school in Malawi
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has maintained good standards since its last inspection. It is a welcoming school where pupils are happy and relationships are warm and respectful.
At a Glance
4.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
90 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 declined from 84% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 77% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 65% to 59% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.4
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
29.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
192 pupils
207 places
15 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Skipton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Skipton
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
25
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
15.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
192
Total Pupils
101
Boys
91
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
21.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,614
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,046
Per pupil
£1068k
Total funding
£9k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
8.0%
Persistent absence
176
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 207 places.
How big are the classes at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 27.4 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 192 pupils on roll. 5% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
3.8% of sessions were missed at Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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.
Where is Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Embsay Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at Pasture Road, Embsay, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6RH.