Birdlip Primary School

About Birdlip Primary School

Birdlip Primary School is a small state primary in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, a local authority with 243 primary schools. Among these, it ranks 31st overall, placing it comfortably in the top tier of schools in the area. The top-performing peers in the LA include Meysey Hampton Church of England Primary School, Temple Guiting Church of England School, and Thrupp School, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. Birdlip itself ranks 9th out of 38 schools within the Cotswold borough, putting it in the top 25% locally. With a capacity of 105 and just 100 pupils on roll, the school is operating near full capacity, and its oversubscription figures confirm its popularity: for 2025/26 entry, there were 53 applications for 15 places, with 23 families listing it as their first preference. The school is non-denominational and mixed, serving children aged 4 to 11, and is led by headteacher James Pugh.

Academically, Birdlip performs well above the local average. In its most recent KS2 results (2023/24), 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Gloucestershire LA average of 59%. The school’s ranking score of 77 on the KS2 RWM expected metric places it in the top 25% nationally and top 13% in the South West region. Reading and maths average scores were 109 and 110 respectively, and 100% of pupils achieved the expected standard in maths. At the higher standard, 46% reached that level in reading and maths, and 15% in writing. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022 rated it Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding. The previous inspection in 2006 had rated the school Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating reflects a slight shift, though leadership and management, quality of education, personal development, and early years provision were all rated Good.

The school offers a practical, well-equipped environment with facilities including a dining hall, sensory room, gymnasium, outdoor playground, playing fields, ICT suite, forest school, and a chapel. Sports on offer include netball, gymnastics, tennis, dance, and athletics, while clubs range from chess and book club to science club and choir. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, and speech, language and communication needs. With no nursery or sixth form provision, Birdlip is a straightforward primary option for families in the Cotswold area. Given its strong academic outcomes, high demand for places, and good Ofsted rating, it is a solid choice for parents seeking a well-regarded village primary that balances solid results with a broad range of activities and support.

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