Needwood CofE Primary School

About Needwood CofE Primary School

If you are looking for a school where parents are genuinely delighted, the numbers from Needwood CofE Primary School are about as strong as they come. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period up to September 2025, every single parent who responded said they would recommend the school. That is a 100% recommend rate from 17 respondents. The detail backs that up: 100% of parents strongly agreed that their child feels safe, and 88% strongly agreed that their child is happy. When it comes to behaviour, 71% strongly agreed the school ensures pupils are well behaved, with the remaining 29% agreeing. Unsurprisingly, the school is oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, there were 18 applications for just 9 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2:1. All 9 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the competition is clear. This is a small, Church of England primary in East Staffordshire with a strong local reputation.

Academically, Needwood is performing at an exceptional level. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That compares with a local authority average of just 65%, so the school is a full 35 percentage points ahead of its peers. The results are not just about meeting the standard either: 90% of pupils achieved a higher score in reading, and 50% did so in maths. The average scaled scores were 113 in reading and 110 in maths, both well above the national benchmark of 100. This performance places Needwood 1st out of 23 schools in East Staffordshire, and 18th nationally out of 13,686 primary schools. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 gave it Outstanding grades across the board, including for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. The school has held an Outstanding rating since at least its previous inspection in 2013.

The school is a small, close-knit community with 73 pupils on roll against a capacity of 90, so class sizes are likely to be very manageable. Facilities include a sensory room, a library, a gymnasium, playing fields, art studios, an ICT suite and a chapel. Sports on offer include rounders, athletics, gymnastics and football, and there are clubs for drama, choir and chess. The school has specific SEND provisions for pupils with dyslexia and speech, language and communication needs, though the Parent View data on SEND support was not answered by respondents. With a Church of England character and a headteacher in Matthew Baxter, this is a school that will particularly suit families who value strong academic outcomes in a small, community-focused setting, and who are prepared for the competition for places. The 9.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals is below the national average, reflecting the relatively affluent catchment.

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