Knowles Primary School, Milton Keynes
Knowles Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Milton Keynes, part of Tove Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 60 schools in Milton Keynes with published results, and 1,036th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Milton Keynes (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Knowles Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 94% of Year 6 pupils at Knowles Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 78% in Milton Keynes and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 70% in reading and 90% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Knowles Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 57 families put Knowles Primary School as their first choice and 87 named it as one of their preferences, for 58 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 Knowles Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Knowles Primary School are The Premier Academy (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 85% maths); Bishop Parker Catholic School (0.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 83% maths); Drayton Park School (0.9 miles, 74% reading, 81% maths); and Holne Chase Primary School (1 mile, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths).
Knowles Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
The Premier AcademyBishop Parker Catholic SchoolDrayton Park SchoolHolne Chase Primary School
The trust
Knowles Primary School is one of 16 schools run by Tove Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
50.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 40.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (32%), Asian (24%) and Black (15%).
In 2026, 54 pupils (15.2%) received SEN support and 9 (2.5%) 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 Fenny Stratford Rail Station, about 630 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Queensway (e-bound), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Knowles Primary School issued 23 suspensions, 6.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Knowles Primary School are Lift Sir Herbert Leon (1.1 miles) and Lord Grey Academy (1.1 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education.
At a Glance
50.6%
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 improved from 70% to 94% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 85% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.4
Avg class size
26.5
Infant (KS1)
28.1
KS2
13
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Knowles Primary School
Before and after school care
Knowles Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Milton Keynes
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Knowles Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Knowles Primary School is in Milton Keynes; for families living there:
- Milton Keynes's school travel policy: School Travel Support Policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 19 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 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 Knowles Primary School
Will you get a place at Knowles Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Knowles Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Knowles Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Knowles Primary School.
- Milton Keynes publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Knowles Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Knowles Primary School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Milton Keynes 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
82%
Available places
346 pupils
420 places
74 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Milton Keynes
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Milton Keynes
Across Milton Keynes council
Places available
4,130
Applications
3,155
Got 1st preference
95.0%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Milton Keynes council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
54
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
17.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
356
Total Pupils
187
Boys
169
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
19.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,687
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,893
Per pupil
£2374k
Total funding
£235k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
10.4%
Persistent absence
317
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Knowles Primary School
Questions parents ask about Knowles Primary School
What are SATs results like at Knowles Primary School?
Of the pupils at Knowles Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 94% reached the expected standard in reading and 90% did so in maths.
What is Knowles Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Knowles Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2019 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Knowles Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Knowles Primary School is oversubscribed, Milton Keynes allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Knowles Primary School?
Knowles Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Knowles Primary School?
Classes at Knowles Primary School average 27.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Knowles Primary School?
Knowles Primary School has around 356 pupils on roll. 51% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Knowles Primary School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at Knowles Primary School in 2024/25. 10.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Knowles Primary School?
Apply through Milton Keynes's coordinated admissions process, naming Knowles 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 Knowles Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Knowles Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Knowles Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 19 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Milton Keynes is 8 (the median across 125 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Knowles Primary School?
Knowles Primary School is at Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK2 2HB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)