Rykneld Primary School, Burton-on-Trent

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades Rykneld Primary School on 7 areas: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders set high expectations for pupils' attendance."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children benefit from a flying start to their education."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a highly inclusive ethos across the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that the personal development programme provides pupils with a detailed understanding of how to keep themselves safe and act in a responsible manner."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Generally, pupils progress successfully through the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is carefully sequenced."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, trustees and members of the local governing body have established a vision for all pupils to succeed."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching is highly effective across the curriculum so that pupils achieve equally high standards in all subjects".

From the headteacher's welcome: "I would like to welcome you to Rykneld Primary School. We pride ourselves on our passion and enthusiasm from all of our adults in school towards caring, supporting, nurturing and educating our children."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, basketball, drama, choir and cheerleading.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am, from £4.50 per day.

In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Rykneld Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 77% in Staffordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (91% in reading, 90% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 71 families put Rykneld Primary School as their first choice and 109 named it as one of their preferences, for 74 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Rykneld Primary School are Branston Locks Primary and Nursery School (0.5 miles); Drakelow Park Flying High Academy (1.3 miles); Lift Anglesey (1.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 92% maths); and Shobnall Primary & Nursery School (1.5 miles, Outstanding, 100% reading, 97% maths).

Rykneld Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

Rykneld Primary School is one of 21 schools run by John Taylor MAT, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

In 2026, 60 pupils (9.7%) received SEN support and 17 (2.8%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Burton-on-Trent Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Saviour's Church (opposite), 150 metres away.

In 2024/25, Rykneld Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Rykneld Primary School are Paget High School (0.6 miles) and John Taylor Free School (0.7 miles).