Thirsk Community Primary School, Thirsk

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Thirsk Community Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have taken effective action to improve pupils' attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and ambitious vision for the early years."

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

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development programme is thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of pupils and considers the context of the local community."

Achievement - Needs attention. "At the end of Year 6, too few pupils gain the knowledge they need in reading, writing and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders' vision for what pupils learn across the curriculum is not fully realised."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Since the previous inspection, the school has experienced several changes in leadership, including at governance level."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, develop the knowledge and skills they need in relation to their handwriting, spelling and punctuation so that they are able to produce written work of a consistently high quality across the curriculum"; "Leaders and governors should ensure that they have a precise oversight of the actions taken to improve the school so that any weaknesses can be promptly identified and addressed"; "Leaders should continue to closely analyse absence and implement strategies to further improve the attendance of a small proportion of pupils that continue to be persistently absent from school".

In its own words: "At Thirsk Community Primary School, we have worked with pupils, parents, staff and Governors to create our Vision and Values. We believe whole heartedly in our Vision, and our Values underpin everything we do. ‘Creating an inspiring learning community, which allows every person to thrive, achieve their full potential and shape a brighter future’"

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £5.00 per morning.

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at Thirsk Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 37% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in North Yorkshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 69% in reading and 54% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Thirsk Community Primary School as their first choice and 20 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 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 Thirsk Community Primary School are All Saints Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 60% reading, 70% maths); Sowerby Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 71% reading, 75% maths); South Kilvington Church of England Academy (1.2 miles, 92% reading, 92% maths); and Keeble Gateway Academy (1.3 miles, Good).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Thirsk Community Primary School.

21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thirsk Community Primary School (as of April 2026): 81% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 20% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (81%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (20%).

45.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 9.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 13 pupils (10.7%) received SEN support and 7 (5.7%) 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 autism.

Thirsk Community Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 24 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Thirsk Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hambleton Close (opposite), 170 metres away.

In 2024/25, Thirsk Community Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.