Schools in North Yorkshire
349 schools in 39 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
North Yorkshire at a glance
- Schools
- 349 290 state primary, 41 state secondary, 2 sixth-form or college and 16 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 92% 253 of the 275 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 34 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 61 Of 322 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 19% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 63 of 331 state schools that take an intake. North Yorkshire's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in North Yorkshire
Primary
| Place in North Yorkshire | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welburn Community Primary School | York | 1st (1/245) |
| 2 | Sinnington Community Primary School | York | Top 1% (2/245) |
| 3 | Tockwith Church of England Primary Academy | York | Top 2% (3/245) |
| 4 | Middleton Tyas Church of England Primary School | Richmond | Top 2% (4/245) |
| 5 | Askwith Primary School | Otley | Top 3% (5/245) |
| 6 | Croft Church of England Primary School | Darlington | Top 3% (6/245) |
| 7 | South Kilvington Church of England Academy | Thirsk | Top 3% (7/245) |
| 8 | Beckwithshaw Community Primary School | Harrogate | Top 4% (8/245) |
| 9 | Birstwith Church of England Primary School | Harrogate | Top 4% (9/245) |
| 10 | Green Hammerton Church of England Primary School | York | Top 5% (10/245) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full North Yorkshire primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in North Yorkshire | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ripon Grammar School | Ripon | 1st (1/38) |
| 2 | Skipton Girls' High School | Skipton | Top 6% (2/38) |
| 3 | Ermysted's Grammar School | Skipton | Top 8% (3/38) |
| 4 | St Aidan's Church of England High School | Harrogate | Top 11% (4/38) |
| 5 | Harrogate Grammar School | Harrogate | Top 14% (5/38) |
| 6 | St Francis Xavier School - a Joint Catholic and Church of England Voluntary Academy | Richmond | Top 16% (6/38) |
| 7 | Ryedale School | York | Top 19% (7/38) |
| 8 | Outwood Academy Easingwold | York | Top 22% (8/38) |
| 9 | St John Fisher Catholic Academy | Harrogate | Top 24% (9/38) |
| 10 | Tadcaster Grammar School | Tadcaster | Top 27% (10/38) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full North Yorkshire secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Bedale 7 schools · best schools
- Harrogate 46 schools · best schools
- Keighley 9 schools · best schools
- Knaresborough 8 schools · best schools
- Malton 13 schools · best schools
- Northallerton 18 schools · best schools
- Richmond 15 schools · best schools
- Ripon 15 schools · best schools
- Scarborough 28 schools · best schools
- Selby 21 schools · best schools
- Skipton 23 schools · best schools
- Thirsk 14 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 October 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | North Yorkshire council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | North Yorkshire council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | North Yorkshire council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | North Yorkshire council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | North Yorkshire council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | North Yorkshire council |
Every North Yorkshire admission date · After offer day in North Yorkshire: replies, waiting lists and appeals
North Yorkshire catchment maps: the 303 school catchments we hold, with each map's source and year.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 63 of 331 state schools (19%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in North Yorkshire: we hold checked fees for 7 of 16 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 220 nurseries and pre-schools in North Yorkshire, with fees held for 51. Nurseries in North Yorkshire by Ofsted rating.
Every school in North Yorkshire
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.