Berkswell Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

About Berkswell Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Berkswell Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school has a capacity of 240 pupils and currently enrols 235, meaning it is running very close to full. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school offered 29 places and received 79 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.72. Of those applicants, 36 put the school as their first preference, and 28 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 9.3 per cent, which is below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively affluent intake. The school has a Church of England religious character and is led by headteacher Tracy Drew. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2022, rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes.

Academically, the school performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 76 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Solihull average of 67 per cent. Reading was a particular strength, with 93 per cent of pupils meeting the expected standard and 38 per cent reaching the higher standard. In maths, 86 per cent met the expected standard and 31 per cent achieved the higher level, while in writing the figures were 83 per cent and 24 per cent respectively. Average scaled scores were 108 in reading and 109 in maths. The school ranks 10th out of 42 primary schools in Solihull on the combined expected standard measure, placing it in the top quarter nationally. Its previous Ofsted inspection, in 2009, rated the school Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating represents a slight step down, though the inspection report notes that leadership and management and the quality of education are both Good, and personal development remains Outstanding.

The school offers a range of facilities including an ICT suite, sports hall, dining hall, playing fields, music rooms, a forest school, gymnasium and a chapel. Sports provision includes dance, swimming, football and cricket, and there are clubs for chess, coding and art. The school has a nursery provision for younger children and makes specific SEND provision for pupils with dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With its strong academic outcomes, Church of England character and oversubscribed intake, this school is likely to suit families who prioritise a well-regarded local primary with a clear moral framework and a track record of strong results. The high first-preference demand means that families applying from outside the catchment or without a church connection should check the admissions criteria carefully.

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