Heron Primary School

About Heron Primary School

Heron Primary School in Gloucester is a popular choice among local families, with 66% of parents who responded to the Ofsted Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. That recommendation rate sits alongside a clear sign of demand in admissions: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 140 applications for just 57 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.46. Of those, 43 families put Heron as their first preference, and all 43 were offered a place. The Parent View responses, collected from 105 respondents between September 2024 and September 2025, show strong majorities agreeing that their child is happy at the school and feels safe there. However, the picture is more mixed on how concerns are handled — 43% agreed or strongly agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, while 35% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Similarly, on SEND support, 40% agreed or strongly agreed that children get the support they need, but 60% disagreed or strongly disagreed, which is a notable split.

Academically, Heron Primary performs solidly against national benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 68% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — well above the local authority average of 59%. The school ranks 7th out of 25 primary schools in Gloucester on this measure, placing it in the top 28% of schools in the city. Looking at individual subjects, 87% met the expected standard in reading, 83% in maths, and 73% in writing. At the higher standard, 27% achieved that level in reading, 18% in maths, and 13% in writing, with 8% hitting the higher bar across all three subjects. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 104 in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, rated it Good across all areas including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision, and leadership and management — a consistent set of Good grades that matches its previous inspection outcome.

Heron Primary is a state-funded, mixed primary school for children aged 4 to 11, with no religious character. It has capacity for 420 pupils and currently has 399 on roll, with 15.3% eligible for free school meals. The school offers a Forest School programme, an ICT suite, a sports hall, music rooms, and playing fields, with sports including swimming, cricket, football and rounders. After-school clubs cover chess, science, drama, coding, book club and film club. The school’s SEND provisions are listed for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Abbeymead Primary School, 0.9 km away. Heron is well-suited to families who want a Good-rated school with above-average KS2 outcomes and a strong local reputation, though the oversubscription means early application is advisable.

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