Melsonby Methodist Primary School, Richmond
Melsonby Methodist Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Richmond. It has a Methodist religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2011. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. It was 40% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2011)
- 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 27 Oct 2026
Melsonby Methodist Primary School in detail
Getting a place at Melsonby Methodist Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Melsonby Methodist Primary School as their first choice and 11 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 Melsonby Methodist Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Melsonby Methodist Primary School are Barton Church of England Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 67% reading, 33% maths); Middleton Tyas Church of England Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); Eppleby Forcett Church of England Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and Ravensworth Church of England Primary School (3.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 88% maths).
Barton Church of England Primary SchoolMiddleton Tyas Church of England Primary SchoolEppleby Forcett Church of England Primary SchoolRavensworth Church of England Primary School
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Melsonby Methodist Primary School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (88%).
Who goes there
9.4% 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, 10 pupils (31.3%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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.
Staffing
Melsonby Methodist Primary School had 3 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more 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 Melsonby Methodist Primary School.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Row (n-bound), 210 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9).
Suspensions and exclusions
Melsonby Methodist Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: 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 July 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?
This small school cares well for its pupils. Leaders are determined that pupils will experience a range of opportunities outside of their village community. They enjoy city residentials to London and Edinburgh. Pupils take part in after-school clubs, including crafts and cooking. The school is part of a federation with another local school. It takes part in 'Federation Fridays' every week. This helps pupils to learn and socialise in larger groups. Pupils who make up the federation school council meet every week. Pupils gain confidence and are ready for the next stage of their education.
The school has high expectations of all pupils. Teachers know pupils well individually in such a small school. They use this knowledge to personalise learning for each pupil. When pupils fall behind, staff put in additional support quickly. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has adapted the curriculum to ensure that it meets the needs of mixed-age classes effectively. Reading is a priority. The phonics scheme is well embedded. All staff are experts in the teaching of early reading. Routines and consistency in teaching are strong. Pupils needing additional support to develop their reading fluency receive it. They catch up quickly. The school gives pupils ample opportunities to practise writing the sounds and words they learn. Older pupils have regular guided reading lessons. They can choose books from a wide range of quality texts. Pupils vote to select a class novel. As a result, pupils develop a love of reading and regularly read for pleasure.
The mathematics curriculum is well established. The curriculum is coherently sequenced to ensure pupils make good progress. Teachers address misconceptions and intervene quickly. Teachers' subject knowledge is strong. Staff support pupils with SEND so that they achieve in line with their peers in mathematics lessons. The early mathematics curriculum in reception has strong links to the Year 1 curriculum.
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 July 2011 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
9.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
16.0
Avg class size
8.0
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Melsonby Methodist Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Melsonby Methodist Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Melsonby Methodist 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)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 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 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 Melsonby Methodist Primary School
Will you get a place at Melsonby Methodist Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Melsonby Methodist Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Melsonby Methodist Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Melsonby Methodist 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 Melsonby Methodist 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
40%
Available places
28 pupils
70 places
42 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Richmond
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Richmond
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
10
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
31.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
32
Total Pupils
11
Boys
21
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
10.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,924
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£11,661
Per pupil
£357k
Total funding
£3k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.2%
Overall absence
0.0%
Persistent absence
24
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Melsonby Methodist Primary School
What is Melsonby Methodist Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Melsonby Methodist Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2011, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Melsonby Methodist 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 Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
Melsonby Methodist Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 40% of its 70 places.
How big are the classes at Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
Classes at Melsonby Methodist Primary School average 16 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
Melsonby Methodist Primary School has around 32 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
2.2% of sessions were missed at Melsonby Methodist Primary School in 2024/25. 0% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Melsonby Methodist 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 Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Melsonby Methodist Primary School?
Melsonby Methodist Primary School is at West Road, Melsonby, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 5ND.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)