Pauntley Church of England Primary School

About Pauntley Church of England Primary School

Pauntley Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in the Forest of Dean, with just 29 pupils on roll against a capacity of 49, making it one of the more intimate school settings in Gloucestershire. Its size is a deliberate choice for many local families: the school received 12 applications for just 2 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6 to 1, and all 2 first-preference offers were taken up. That demand is striking given the school's modest footprint. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.2%, which is slightly above the national primary average of around 23% but sits comfortably within the local context for a rural Church of England school. With a Church of England religious character and a mixed gender intake from ages 4 to 11, the school draws from a wide catchment area across the Forest of Dean, and its small cohort means each child is well-known to staff.

Academically, Pauntley punches well above its weight. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school achieved a Good rating across all categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement in 2019. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 90% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, far exceeding the local authority average of 59%. In reading, 100% met the expected standard and 20% reached the higher standard; in maths, 100% met the expected standard and 10% achieved the higher standard. The school's average reading score was 107 and maths score 103. These results place Pauntley 1st out of 39 schools in the Forest of Dean local authority ranking, and 316th nationally out of 13,686 primary schools — comfortably in the top 3% of the country.

The school offers a practical, well-equipped environment for its small community. Facilities include a dining hall, sensory room, art studios, music rooms and a chapel, which supports its Church of England character. Sports provision covers football, rounders, cross country, gymnastics, cricket and swimming, while clubs extend to drama, coding, art, chess, gardening and choir. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its oversubscription and tiny intake, this is a school that suits families who value a close-knit, rural primary with strong academic outcomes and a clear Christian ethos. It is not a school for those seeking a large cohort or extensive nursery or sixth-form provision, but for parents in the Forest of Dean who want a high-performing village school, it is clearly in demand.

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