Priory Rise School

Priory Rise School is a primary academy in Milton Keynes, part of the 5 Dimensions Schools Trust. This was its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection, with a new headteacher appointed in January 2025. Inspectors found a highly ambitious and effective school where pupils thrive, achieve exceptionally well and behave impeccably. The report is uniformly positive. Pupils benefit from a well-sequenced curriculum from Nursery onwards, expert teaching, strong reading provision and precise support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils. Attendance is very high, personal development is carefully planned, and pupils take meaningful roles in the school community. Leadership, governance and trust support are strong, staff are well trained and supported, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. No areas for improvement were identified in the report. The school's work across education, behaviour, personal development, leadership and early years was found to be of the highest standard.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve exceptionally well and thrive in a respectful, caring culture
• Behaviour is exemplary, with pupils focused on learning and kind to others
• The curriculum is well structured from Nursery through Year 6
• Subject leaders are highly knowledgeable and staff teach with secure subject expertise
• Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils are identified quickly and supported precisely
• Reading is central to the curriculum and pupils become fluent, enthusiastic readers
• Attendance is very high across all groups, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
• Personal development is detailed and pupils show a strong sense of equality and difference
• A wide range of clubs broadens pupils' talents and interests
• Leaders, trustees and governors share an ambitious vision and provide strong support
• Staff receive high-quality training and their workload and well-being are prioritised
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

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 Priory Rise School attended 96.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.0% 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, 0.1% of pupils at Priory Rise 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 Priory Rise School had 23.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.4% 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, 14.2% of pupils at Priory Rise School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 Priory Rise School received £6,053 and spent £5,923 for each of its 661 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £889,000 (£1,344 per pupil).

Across all 6 schools of 5 Dimensions Trust, income was £6,066 and spending £6,012 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 Milton Keynes · Milton Keynes local authority: places and applications

Priory Rise School is part of 5 Dimensions Trust, which runs 7 schools. The nearest others:

• Shenley Brook End School Milton Keynes
• Emerson Valley School Milton Keynes
• Merebrook Infant School Milton Keynes
• The Hazeley Academy Milton Keynes
• Walton High Milton Keynes
• Brooklands Academy Milton Keynes

What is Priory Rise School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Priory Rise School is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2025.

When was Priory Rise School last inspected by Ofsted?

Priory Rise School was last inspected in July 2025.

How many pupils does Priory Rise School have?

Priory Rise School has 674 pupils on roll.

What age range does Priory Rise School cover?

Priory Rise School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Priory Rise School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Priory Rise School?

Priory Rise School is at 160 Bronte Avenue, Tattenhoe Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK4 3GE.