Sowerby Primary Academy, Thirsk
Sowerby Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Thirsk, part of Elevate Multi Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 6th-highest of the 10 schools in Thirsk with published results, and 9,159th of 14,452 across England. It was 83% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
Sowerby Primary Academy in detail
Sowerby Primary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Sowerby Primary Academy is proud to be part of Elevate Multi-academy Trust. We are a family of academies who are aspirational, where children are valued, inspired and confident. We share a relentless determination that every child can achieve and no child is left behind. We are a warm, courteous and welcoming community."
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Sowerby Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 70% in reading and 50% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Sowerby Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 28 families put Sowerby Primary Academy as their first choice and 59 named it as one of their preferences, for 28 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 Sowerby Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sowerby Primary Academy are All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy (under 0.1 miles, Good, 60% reading, 70% maths); Keeble Gateway Academy (0.5 miles, Good); Thirsk Community Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 57% reading, 37% maths); and South Kilvington Church of England Academy (1.8 miles, 92% reading, 92% maths).
Sowerby Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary AcademyKeeble Gateway AcademyThirsk Community Primary SchoolSouth Kilvington Church of England Academy
The trust
Sowerby Primary Academy is one of 18 schools run by Elevate Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
6.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 60 pupils (21.5%) received SEN support and 7 (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 Thirsk Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Green Lane East (s-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 68 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sowerby Primary Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from December 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its December 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
18.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 50% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 74% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
21.0
Avg class size
17.5
Infant (KS1)
24.8
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Sowerby Primary Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sowerby Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sowerby Primary Academy 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
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
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 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 Sowerby Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Sowerby Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sowerby Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sowerby Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sowerby Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from North Yorkshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Sowerby Primary Academy for 2018 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
83%
Available places
261 pupils
315 places
54 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Thirsk
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thirsk
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(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
60
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
24.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
279
Total Pupils
143
Boys
136
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
21.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,867
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,136
Per pupil
£1487k
Total funding
£86k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
10.5%
Persistent absence
247
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
Sowerby Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about Sowerby Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Sowerby Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Sowerby Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Sowerby Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Sowerby Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Sowerby Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Sowerby Primary Academy 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 Sowerby Primary Academy?
Sowerby Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 83% of its 315 places.
How big are the classes at Sowerby Primary Academy?
Classes at Sowerby Primary Academy average 21 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Sowerby Primary Academy?
Sowerby Primary Academy has around 279 pupils on roll. 18% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sowerby Primary Academy?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Sowerby Primary Academy in 2024/25. 10.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sowerby Primary Academy?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Sowerby Primary Academy 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 Sowerby Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 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 North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sowerby Primary Academy?
Sowerby Primary Academy is at Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1RX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)