Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, York
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in York. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2011. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 85th-highest of the 93 schools in York with published results, and 13,336th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2011)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North Yorkshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "On behalf of the children, staff and Governors, I'd like to say a big hello and welcome to Foston CE VC Primary School. As schools we believe in the value of every child and adult who enters our doors."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:30am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 10 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 Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Sheriff Hutton Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 69% reading, 85% maths); Welburn Community Primary School (2.7 miles); Terrington Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (3.7 miles, Good); and Sand Hutton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (4.1 miles, Good, 64% reading, 73% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
Sheriff Hutton Primary SchoolWelburn Community Primary SchoolTerrington Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolSand Hutton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What parents say
14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
Who goes there
13.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 7 pupils (12.1%) received SEN support and 1 (1.7%) 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.
Staffing
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School had 2 teachers in 2026, one for every 28 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Garth View (se-bound), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9).
Suspensions and exclusions
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 2011, 15 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's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils 'learn and grow together' during their time at this small village school. Pupils understand the school values of love, joy, patience and self-control. They know how these contribute to their progress in school. Pupils are keen to meet the high expectations that the school has for their achievement. Pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
The school promotes a culture of mutual respect. Positive relationships between staff and pupils are at the heart of the school community from the early years onwards. Pupils are happy and thriving. Pupils are proud of their school and enjoy learning. They are polite and well mannered. Pupils feel safe in school and trust adults to deal with any concerns.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The curriculum demonstrates ambition for all, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. The school's well-thought-out curriculum allows pupils to build securely on new knowledge and skills from what they have already learned. Staff routinely check pupils' understanding and ensure that this is secure before applying what pupils know to new ideas. Occasionally, teachers do not identify and resolve pupils' misconceptions. This leads to gaps in their knowledge persisting.
The teaching of reading is a strength of the school. Children in the early years get off to a flying start with phonics. Staff are experts in teaching children to read. Children's books are closely matched to the sounds that they know. This helps them to master phonics quickly and to become fluent readers. There is strong support for those pupils who find reading difficult. These pupils are quickly identified. Swift action is taken before they begin to fall behind. Teachers read to pupils every day. A carefully compiled list of books to read together is in place across school. The school has a well-resourced library that contains a range of carefully selected books.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2011 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
13.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
14 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)
2024/25 academic year
Class Sizes
14.5
Avg class size
17.0
Infant (KS1)
15.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Newsletter 25th September 2026
25 Sep 2026
Newsletter 18th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
Newsletter 11th September 2026
11 Sep 2026
From Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Foston 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.
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 Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Full
56 pupils
56 places
No spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - York
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for York
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
13.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
58
Total Pupils
23
Boys
35
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
2
Teachers
29.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
2026 data
School Funding
£7,963
Per pupil
£507k
Total funding
£12k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.0%
Overall absence
8.3%
Persistent absence
48
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 57% reached the expected standard in reading and 57% did so in maths.
What is Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2011, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Foston 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 Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 14.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 58 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
4% of sessions were missed at Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 8.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Foston 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.
How many road collisions happen near Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Foston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at Main Street, Foston, York, North Yorkshire, YO60 7QB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)