Schools in Leyburn

Leyburn serves as the main market town for Wensleydale, and its 7 schools — six primaries and Wensleydale School and Sixth Form as the secondary — are spread across the dale rather than concentrated in the town itself. Four of the six primaries have a Church of England character, reflecting the area's strong rural Anglican tradition; Bainbridge CofE, West Burton CofE, Spennithorne CofE and Askrigg VC Primary all require a supplementary faith form. Average fill is 71 per cent, the lowest of any North Yorkshire market town in this dataset, largely because village schools serve small and geographically dispersed populations.

One primary is officially oversubscribed despite the low average fill — a reminder that even in rural areas a single popular village school can attract more applicants than it has places. North Yorkshire's co-ordinated scheme applies to all community and voluntary-controlled primaries; voluntary-aided faith schools set their own criteria. Families new to the dale should note that the secondary, Wensleydale School, has a very wide geographical catchment and is the only state secondary option for many miles.