St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School in West Tanfield continues to deliver a good quality of education, demonstrating a strong sense of community and high expectations for student achievement. The school has successfully developed an ambitious curriculum that helps pupils transition smoothly to secondary education while fostering positive attitudes towards learning and behavior. The inclusion of pupils with special educational needs is notable, with effective strategies in place to meet their diverse needs, allowing them to achieve well. Despite its strengths, the school faces challenges, particularly with older pupils who have only recently benefited from the revised curriculum. Historical weaknesses, compounded by the impact of the pandemic, have created gaps in knowledge for some students, particularly in upper key stage 2. The leadership team is committed to addressing these challenges, focusing on embedding knowledge retrieval strategies to enhance learning outcomes for these pupils as they prepare for the next stage of their education.

Strengths

• Strong sense of community and care for pupils
• Effective partnership with parents and carers
• Ambitious and well-structured curriculum
• High-quality teaching with deep subject knowledge
• Exemplary pupil behavior and positive learning attitudes
• Strong emphasis on reading and literacy development
• Comprehensive personal development program for pupils
• Valued and collaborative staff culture

Areas for Improvement

• Older pupils have gaps in knowledge due to previous curriculum weaknesses and pandemic impact

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield had 20.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.2% of pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield received £9,559 and spent £9,475 for each of its 53 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £65,000 (£1,234 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ripon · North Yorkshire local authority: places and applications

What is St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield last inspected by Ofsted?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield have?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield has 53 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield cover?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield for pupils aged 3 to 11.

Where is St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, West Tanfield is at Mowbray Terrace, West Tanfield, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5JN.