Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School

About Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School

Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 253 against a capacity of 390. That leaves a fair amount of physical space, but the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 101 applications for just 30 places, with 39 of those as first preferences. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 3.37, meaning nearly three and a half families applied for every spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 9.5%, which is below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively advantaged intake compared with many schools in the South Gloucestershire local authority. The school has a Church of England religious character, and the headteacher is Neil McKellar-Turner. It is not a boarding school, has no nursery provision, and does not have a sixth form.

Academically, the school has made a notable turnaround. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023, it was rated Good overall, with an Outstanding rating for early years provision. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection in May 2019, when it was rated Requires Improvement overall, with leadership and management also judged Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is slightly above the South Gloucestershire local authority average of 61%. Average scores were 105 in reading and 104 in maths. At the higher standard, 27% of pupils achieved that level in reading and 22% in maths, though no pupils reached the higher standard in writing or in the combined measure. The school ranks 37th out of 69 primary schools in South Gloucestershire, placing it in the top 50% locally and around the national median.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a library, playing fields, a sports hall, an ICT suite, music rooms, a gymnasium and a chapel. Sports on offer include gymnastics, athletics, football, netball, tennis and cricket, and there are clubs such as chess, choir, eco club, film club and art club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is Beacon Rise Primary School, 1.5 km away. Given the oversubscription, families applying here should be prepared for competition, particularly if they are not among the first-preference applicants. This school will suit families who value a Church of England ethos, a broad range of extracurricular activities, and a school that has demonstrably improved its Ofsted rating in recent years.

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