Haresfield Church of England Primary School

About Haresfield Church of England Primary School

Haresfield Church of England Primary School sits in a mixed position compared with the Gloucestershire average for Key Stage 2. Its 58% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths is just one percentage point below the local authority average of 59%, so it is essentially in line with the typical primary school in the county. However, the school’s ranking within Stroud tells a different story: it places 34th out of 52 schools, putting it in the bottom half of the local area. Nationally, it sits in the 62nd percentile, which is a solid mid-table result. The school is small, with 103 pupils against a capacity of 105, and it is oversubscribed — 27 families applied for just 5 places in the 2025/26 intake, giving a ratio of 5.4 applicants per place. That level of demand suggests local parents see something worthwhile here, even if the headline metrics don’t scream top of the class.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is mixed by subject. Reading is a clear strength: 92% of pupils reached the expected standard and 42% achieved a higher score, with an average scaled score of 108. Writing is weaker, with 67% at the expected level and only 17% at the higher level. Maths sits in between: 83% hit the expected standard, 17% reached the higher threshold, and the average score was 104. No pupil achieved the higher standard in all three subjects combined. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2022, confirmed it remains Good, matching the rating from its previous graded inspection in 2013. Leadership and management were also judged Good. The earlier 2010 inspection had rated early years provision as Requires Improvement, but that has clearly been resolved since.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for its size, including a sports hall, playing fields, an ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, a chapel, and a forest school area. There is also a sensory room, which ties in with the SEND provision for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. Clubs include gardening, coding and book club, while sports on offer are rounders, football, dance, cricket, tennis and swimming. With a Church of England character and a headteacher in Rachel Bacon, this is a small village primary that is clearly popular locally, but parents should note the oversubscription — getting a place is competitive. It will suit families who value a close-knit, faith-based setting with solid but not outstanding academic outcomes, and who are happy to supplement writing progress at home.

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