Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School is demonstrating many strengths, particularly in safeguarding and early years education, where children benefit from rich interactions and effective support. The school has a well-organized curriculum that supports most pupils’ retention of information. Relationships among pupils and staff are positive, contributing to a caring school environment. However, some areas need improvement, particularly in mathematics and handwriting, where gaps in knowledge can hinder student progress. Additionally, attendance remains a concern, especially among disadvantaged pupils, with leaders recognizing the necessity of addressing these issues.

Strengths

• Strong safeguarding culture ensures pupils feel safe.
• Well-organized curriculum builds learners' knowledge effectively.
• Teachers adapt lessons to meet the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Early years education fosters confidence and independence.
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils create a supportive environment.

Areas for Improvement

• Gaps in pupils' knowledge in mathematics and handwriting slow learning.
• Attendance is too low, especially for disadvantaged pupils.

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 Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School attended 94.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.7% 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, 6.0% of pupils at Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School 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 Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School had 14.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 44.0% 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, 23.6% of pupils at Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.2% 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 2024–25 Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School received £8,636 and spent £8,286 for each of its 83 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £88,000 (£1,063 per pupil).

Across all 36 schools of Peterborough Diocese Education Trust, income was £6,820 and spending £6,815 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

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All schools in Northampton · North Northamptonshire local authority: places and applications

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School is part of Peterborough Diocese Education Trust, which runs 36 schools. The nearest others:

• Sywell Church of England Primary School Northampton
• Freemans Endowed Church of England Junior Academy Wellingborough
• St Barnabas Church of England School Wellingborough
• The Glenvale Church of England Primary School Wellingborough
• Pytchley Endowed Church of England Primary School Kettering
• Isham Church of England Primary School Kettering
• St. Marys CofE Primary School Kettering
• St James Church of England Primary School Northampton
• Loddington CofE (VA) Primary School Kettering
• Spratton Church of England Primary School Northampton

What is Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School is Needs attention, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School have?

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School has 72 pupils on roll.

What age range does Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School cover?

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School?

Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School is at North Street, Mears Ashby, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN6 0DW.