Topcliffe CofE Academy

Topcliffe CofE Academy is a highly inclusive primary school where pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve exceptionally well. Inspectors found a high-quality curriculum, strong early years provision and highly effective phonics and reading teaching. Pupils are confident, fluent learners who show deep understanding and exemplary recall, and their work is of an exceptional standard. Behaviour and attitudes are exceptional, attendance is high, and pupils are warm, respectful and safe. The school provides an exceptional wider development programme, including visits to places of worship, a buddy system and clubs, and parents are very positive about the support their children receive. Leadership is strong at all levels, with diligent governance and trustees and a clear focus on staff workload and well-being. Safeguarding is effective. This was a graded inspection and the school’s first inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic. The school is an academy converter within Elevate Multi Academy Trust and has provision for two-year-olds.

Strengths

• High-quality curriculum designed around pupils’ needs and interests
• Pupils achieve highly across subjects, including pupils with SEND
• Pupils demonstrate deep understanding and exemplary recall of learning
• Exceptional standard of work in pupils’ books
• Strong early years provision with meaningful learning through play
• Highly effective phonics teaching and support for pupils who fall behind
• Exceptional behaviour and conduct, with high attendance
• Highly effective support for pupils who struggle to regulate emotions
• Exceptional wider development programme with rich experiences and responsibilities
• Highly inclusive environment with strong support for pupils with SEND and positive parent views
• Strong leadership, governance and trustee oversight
• Staff workload and well-being are well considered, and staff are highly motivated
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

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 Topcliffe CofE Academy attended 97.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 3.3% 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 Topcliffe CofE Academy 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 Topcliffe CofE Academy had 17.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.9% 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, 22.4% of pupils at Topcliffe CofE Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.4% 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 Topcliffe CofE Academy received £8,214 and spent £7,948 for each of its 112 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £109,000 (£969 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Elevate Multi Academy Trust, income was £7,114 and spending £6,947 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.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Topcliffe CofE Academy is part of Elevate Multi Academy Trust, which runs 18 schools. The nearest others:

• Alanbrooke Academy Thirsk
• Keeble Gateway Academy Thirsk
• Carlton Miniott Primary Academy Thirsk
• Sowerby Primary Academy Thirsk
• Sessay Church of England Primary School Thirsk
• South Kilvington Church of England Academy Thirsk
• Husthwaite Church of England Primary School York
• Knayton Church of England Academy Thirsk
• Marton-Cum-Grafton Church of England Primary School York
• Meadowside Academy Knaresborough

What is Topcliffe CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Topcliffe CofE Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Topcliffe CofE Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Topcliffe CofE Academy was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Topcliffe CofE Academy have?

Topcliffe CofE Academy has 116 pupils on roll.

What age range does Topcliffe CofE Academy cover?

Topcliffe CofE Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Topcliffe CofE Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Topcliffe CofE Academy?

Topcliffe CofE Academy is at School Lane, Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3RG.