Goldenhill Primary Academy

About Goldenhill Primary Academy

Goldenhill Primary Academy is rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023, but the detail tells a more nuanced story. The school achieved an Outstanding rating in two of the five inspected categories: early years provision and personal development. In terms of academic outcomes, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2. That figure stands at 90 per cent, which is significantly above the Stoke-on-Trent local authority average of 60 per cent. This performance places Goldenhill first among 63 primary schools in the local authority rankings, and in the top two per cent nationally. The school’s previous inspection, back in 2010, awarded it an Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating represents a change in grade, though the early years provision has held onto its Outstanding status across both inspections.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school’s strength is consistent across the core subjects. In reading, 90 per cent of pupils met the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 110. In maths, the same proportion met the expected standard, with an average score of 111. At the higher standard, 55 per cent of pupils achieved in both reading and maths, while 31 per cent reached that level in writing. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. However, the combination of high expected-standard attainment and strong higher-standard results suggests that the school is stretching its pupils effectively. The 37.9 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals is above the national average, making these outcomes particularly noteworthy in a context of higher-than-average disadvantage.

Goldenhill is a three-to-eleven mixed primary with a nursery provision and a capacity of 236 pupils, currently housing 227. It was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 39 applications for 28 places and all 28 first-preference applicants receiving an offer. The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision includes swimming, gymnastics, cross country and athletics, while clubs range from choir and coding to eco club and chess. The school’s SEND register covers moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment and visual impairment. For families prioritising strong academic outcomes in a state primary with a broad extracurricular offer and well-documented SEND support, Goldenhill is a compelling option, particularly given its top ranking within the local authority.

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