Golden Valley Primary School
98%
Capacity
411
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Golden Valley Primary School
Golden Valley Primary School is a state primary in North Somerset that is clearly in demand. With 411 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is running very close to full, and its admission data for the 2025/26 intake tells a clear story: the school received 107 applications for 50 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.14 applicants per place. All 50 first-preference families were offered a spot, which suggests that while competition exists, those who put it top of their list have a strong chance. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 8.3%, notably lower than the national average for primary schools, which typically hovers around 23-24%. This places Golden Valley in a relatively affluent catchment, and the school's demographic profile reflects a community where disadvantage is less concentrated than in many other parts of the country.
Academically, Golden Valley performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the North Somerset average of 61%. That puts the school 8th out of 57 primaries in the local authority, comfortably within the top 25% nationally. Results are particularly strong in reading, where 85% met the expected standard and 45% achieved a higher standard, while maths saw 82% at expected and 28% at higher. Average scaled scores of 107 in reading and 106 in maths are solid. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, rated it Good across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership. This marks a change from its previous Outstanding rating in 2014, but the current judgement still reflects a well-run school.
The school offers a decent range of facilities including music rooms, an ICT suite, art studios and a Forest School, plus sports such as swimming, gymnastics and tennis. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, though the Parent View responses on SEND support were notably mixed, with 58% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing that children with SEND get the support they need. Overall, 76% of parents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that children are happy and feel safe. Golden Valley suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a popular, oversubscribed school, but those with children requiring SEND support may want to investigate further.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Nailsea Park, Bristol, North Somerset, BS48 1BB |
| Headteacher | Richard Riordan |
| Local Authority | North Somerset |
| Number of Pupils | 411 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.3% |
| School Capacity | 411 / 420 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 May 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (78%)
1887th of 13,686
Nationally
169th of 1,469
In South West
8th of 57
In North Somerset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
78%
Expected Standard
10%
Higher Standard
'22/23
52%
'23/24
78%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
153 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed50
107
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
50 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.1%
- Asian3.9%
- White (other)3.9%
- Mixed3.4%
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 half 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.
6
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
5
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Golden Valley Primary 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
Nailsea Park, Bristol
North Somerset, BS48 1BB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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