The Federation North and South Cowton Community and Melsonby Methodist Primary Schools

Together Stronger

Our School

vMelsonby Methodist Primary School is a thriving school situated in North Yorkshire serving Melsonby and surrounding villages.

The school has been at the heart of the local community for more than 140 years, it has been substantially refurbished and recently extended. It is a rural school with the benefit of small class sizes and high staff to pupil ratios.

Our dedicated and professional staff focus on each pupil as an individual, through working in partnership with parents and carers, we focus on every child’s strengths to ensure they achieve the very best they can. We encourage Christian values, which promote a caring, loving and respectful climate for learning and daily school life. We want all pupils to be successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens.

The school has an active and supportive Governing Body and Parent Teacher Association. There are numerous links into the community; these have benefits both in developing the pupils’ sense of belonging and personal responsibility and also enhancing the local community.

We are committed to providing the very best in education and social skills for all pupils, and seek to continually improve our school. We hope our website provides you with an insight into life at our school. Prospective parents and pupils are warmly invited to visit the school, to meet the staff and children.

Education is about making a real positive difference, providing every opportunity for all learners to be successful, for us to celebrate achievements together. We would be privileged if you would like to come to, ‘learn and grow’ with us!

History, present and future

Melsonby Methodist Primary School has served the local community for over one hundred and forty years. It was originally built as a gallery primary school in 1864 and was extended when a wing was added by the Martin Family at the beginning of the 19th century.

The school has gone from strength to strength, attracting and retaining excellent teaching and support staff. Pupil numbers have increased by over 30% in the past few years.

The Governing Body and staff continue to work tirelessly not only to maintain the current good standards, but continue to improve the school for current and future pupils.

Pupils flourish in this small village school. At the heart of the school are the strong Christian values of loving and respecting others. They manifest themselves in caring pupils, who are respectful, polite and well mannered. Pupils told us that, ‘Because it’s not a big school, we are all friends with each other, and we all know each other and feel safe.’   OFSTED report November 2019 


The continued success of the school relies not only on the staff, governors and current parents, but future parents. With your support, we can ensure that Melsonby Methodist Primary School continues to provide our local children with the very best education, and remains at the heart of the community for another hundred and forty years!