Foljambe Primary School

About Foljambe Primary School

Foljambe Primary School in Rotherham is a smaller-than-average state primary, with 128 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210. That spare space is notable because the school is actually oversubscribed for Reception places in the 2025/26 admissions round: 21 families applied for 13 places, and all 13 first-preference applicants were offered a spot, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.62. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 65.6%, which is significantly above the national average and suggests the school serves a community with higher-than-typical levels of disadvantage. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, taking children from age 3 through to 11, and it has a nursery provision on site. Headteacher Jackie Heydon leads a team that, according to the most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025, is still working through some challenges — the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, though inspectors noted strengths in behaviour and personal development.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 academic year place it near the bottom of the local league table. Just 29% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Rotherham local authority average of 60%. That puts Foljambe 81st out of 84 primary schools in the borough, and in the bottom 3% nationally. Individual subject scores tell a similar story: 35% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, 41% in maths, and 35% in writing. No pupils achieved the higher standard in any of the three subjects. Average scaled scores were 96 in reading and 98 in maths, both below the national benchmark of 100. The school’s Ofsted report, published in July 2025, graded the quality of education and leadership as Requires Improvement, while behaviour and attitudes, and personal development, were both rated Good. Early years provision was also judged as Requires Improvement.

Despite the academic challenges, parent feedback is strikingly positive. In the Parent View survey covering September 2024 to September 2025, 100% of the 11 respondents said they would recommend the school, and every single one strongly agreed that their child is happy and that the school supports their wider personal development. The school offers a range of clubs including coding, chess, science, gardening and book club, plus sports such as dance, tennis, cricket and gymnastics. Facilities include a library, ICT suite, outdoor playground and art studios. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that clearly inspires strong loyalty from its families, even as it works on raising academic outcomes.

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