Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Whitby

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard, 3 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "The early years is a strength of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's approach to pupils' personal development is broad, well-structured and age-appropriate."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders monitor pupils' attendance and punctuality closely."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Ruswarp is an inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders monitor the quality of the curriculum and teaching closely."

Achievement - Needs attention. "By the end of key stage 2, pupils' achievements in writing and mathematics are not consistently in line with national standards."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There are inconsistencies in teaching that slow pupils' progress through the curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that older pupils receive the targeted support they need to secure their foundational skills in handwriting"; "Leaders should ensure that assessment information is used to plan future learning, so that gaps in pupils' knowledge are addressed"; "Leaders should ensure that more consistently effective teaching drives improved achievement, so that published outcomes at the end of key stage 2 are more closely aligned with standards achieved nationally".

In 2024, 56% of Year 6 pupils at Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 44% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 76% and 74% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 17 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.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Airy Hill Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 85% reading, 90% maths); Stakesby Primary Academy (1 mile, Good, 81% reading, 81% maths); East Whitby Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 78% reading, 72% maths); and West Cliff Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 74% reading, 71% maths).

25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (as of April 2026): 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 (92%).

8.3% 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, 4 pupils (11.1%) 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 autism.

Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 7 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Ruswarp Rail Station, about 40 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (se-bound), 10 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 30 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.

Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.