Charlton Kings Infants' School
99%
Capacity
266
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Charlton Kings Infants' School
Parents considering Charlton Kings Infants' School will find a school that is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 173 applications for just 82 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.11. Of those, 78 families put it as their first preference, and all 78 were offered a place. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a state-funded, mixed primary for children aged 3 to 7, with a nursery on site. It has no religious character and is led by headteacher Katie James. With 266 pupils on roll against a capacity of 270, it is running very close to full. Only 4.1 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably low and points to a relatively affluent catchment area.
Academically, the school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2018 rated it Good overall, with Good for both leadership and management and early years provision. An ungraded inspection in May 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, with an improving trajectory. That is a solid outcome, though it is worth noting that the school was previously rated Outstanding in its 2009 inspection, so the current Good rating represents a step down. The local authority has 9 Outstanding primary schools out of 243 total, so Good is still a strong position. The nearest Outstanding alternative is Christ Church CofE Primary School, 3.4 km away. For Key Stage 2 outcomes, the local authority average is 59 per cent reaching the expected standard, though as an infants' school Charlton Kings does not have its own KS2 data to compare.
The school offers a practical range of facilities including an outdoor playground, ICT suite, sports hall and music rooms. Sports provision covers cricket, gymnastics, football, netball and cross country, while clubs include coding, chess, eco club and science club. For children with additional needs, the school supports social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment and other difficulties or disabilities. Given the high oversubscription, families living closest to the school will have the strongest chance of securing a place. This is a school that suits families who value a strong local community feel, a broad range of activities from an early age, and a Good-rated setting that is clearly popular among Cheltenham parents.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Lyefield Road East, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, GL53 8AY |
| Headteacher | Katie James |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 266 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 4.1% |
| School Capacity | 266 / 270 (99% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (15 May 2024): School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jun 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
4Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed82
173
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
78 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British83.5%
- Mixed5.7%
- White (other)5.3%
- Asian4.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charlton Kings Infants' School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Lyefield Road East, Cheltenham
Cheltenham, GL53 8AY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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