Ranskill Primary School, Retford
Ranskill Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Retford, part of Aspire and Shine Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 16 schools in Retford with published results, and 320th of 14,452 across England. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Nottinghamshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Ranskill Primary School in detail
Ranskill Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "At Ranskill Primary School, we nurture every child to achieve, grow, and thrive - becoming their best self, today and in the future. At Ranskill Primary School you will find a warm, vibrant and welcoming atmosphere where staff and children have a positive and ambitious outlook."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Ranskill Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 76% in Nottinghamshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (94% in reading, 94% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Ranskill Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Ranskill Primary School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 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 Ranskill Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ranskill Primary School are Mattersey Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 67% reading, 33% maths); The Primary School of St Mary and St Martin (2.1 miles, Good, 94% reading, 88% maths); Sutton-Cum-Lound CofE School (2.5 miles, Good, 54% reading, 54% maths); and Everton Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 88% reading, 81% maths).
Ranskill Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Mattersey Primary SchoolThe Primary School of St Mary and St MartinSutton-Cum-Lound CofE SchoolEverton Primary School
The trust
Ranskill Primary School is one of 15 schools run by Aspire and Shine Education Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ranskill Primary School (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 97% 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 their child does well at the school (90%).
Who goes there
10.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 15 pupils (10.2%) received SEN support and 1 (0.7%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Ranskill Primary School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Station Road (e-bound), 310 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Nottinghamshire (101).
Suspensions and exclusions
Ranskill 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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Ranskill Primary School creates a warm, supportive environment where your child will feel valued as an individual. Teachers are knowledgeable and focus on helping children understand important knowledge deeply. The school excels at preparing children for life beyond school through personal development awards, leadership opportunities, and enriching trips.
Key Strengths
- Carefully designed curriculum with knowledgeable teachers who provide clear explanations and use subject-specific vocabulary
- Strong reading provision with expert teaching from early years; at-risk pupils quickly identified and supported
- Very effective personal development program preparing pupils for life beyond school, including trips to the Peak District and coast
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND who achieve well academically and socially
- Proactive leadership that makes sustainable improvements without negatively impacting staff workload
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers sometimes do not provide work focused clearly enough on complex aspects of the curriculum, such as problem-solving in mathematics, limiting how well pupils deepen their understanding
- On occasions, teachers do not check pupils' understanding well enough to identify when pupils need extra help or are ready for more demanding work
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School council, librarians, personal development awards (bronze, silver, gold), trips to the Peak District and coast
Ranskill Primary School has maintained its good standards and continues to provide a supportive, caring environment where pupils feel comfortable and confident. The school has high expectations for what pupils can achieve and they perform very well in national tests.
At a Glance
10.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
29 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 remained stable at around 93% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 94% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 88% to 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.0
Avg class size
16.0
KS2
5
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Ranskill Primary School
Term dates
Ranskill Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Nottinghamshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ranskill Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ranskill Primary School is in Nottinghamshire; for families living there:
- Nottinghamshire's school travel policy: Under 16 Transport Policy 2026-2027
- How to apply: Apply for under 16 travel assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight.
1 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 Nottinghamshire is 10 (the median across 370 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ranskill Primary School
Will you get a place at Ranskill Primary School?
For 2026 entry it had 14 first choices for 14 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
125 pupils
140 places
15 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Nottinghamshire council
Places available
10,513
Applications
7,912
Got 1st preference
99.1%
Got preferred school
99.7%
All primary applications across Nottinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the North Notts Rural planning area (Nottinghamshire) will have 57 spare primary places in 2027/28. In the year groups that are short, it estimates 2 additional places needed.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
10.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
147
Total Pupils
72
Boys
75
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
21.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,011
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,666
Per pupil
£769k
Total funding
£23k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
5.4%
Persistent absence
111
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Ranskill Primary School
What are SATs results like at Ranskill Primary School?
Of the pupils at Ranskill Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 93% reached the expected standard in reading and 100% did so in maths.
What is Ranskill Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ranskill Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in October 2016, it was rated Good.
Is it hard to get a place at Ranskill Primary School?
Ranskill Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 140 places.
How big are the classes at Ranskill Primary School?
Classes at Ranskill Primary School average 26 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils.
How many pupils go to Ranskill Primary School?
Ranskill Primary School has around 147 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ranskill Primary School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Ranskill Primary School in 2024/25. 5.4% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near Ranskill Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight. 1 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 Nottinghamshire is 10 (the median across 370 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ranskill Primary School?
Ranskill Primary School is at Cherry Tree Walk, Ranskill, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8LH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)