Pontesbury CofE Primary School

About Pontesbury CofE Primary School

Pontesbury CofE Primary School is a Church of England state primary in Shropshire that is running very close to full capacity, with 207 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 210. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13 per cent, which is worth noting against the national average for primary schools, though the data doesn't provide a direct local authority comparison for this metric. The school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 60 applications for just 28 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.14. Of those 60 applications, 25 were first-preference choices, and the school was able to offer places to all 25 first-preference applicants. That suggests a school that local families are actively choosing, and one where being realistic about your chances of getting a place is important if you're not in the catchment area or don't have a church connection.

Academically, Pontesbury sits in the bottom half of Shropshire primary schools when ranked by the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 51 per cent of pupils hit that combined expected standard, compared with a local authority average of 59 per cent. Only 11 per cent reached the higher standard across all three subjects. Looking at individual subjects, 74 per cent met the expected standard in maths, 63 per cent in reading and 69 per cent in writing. Average scaled scores were 103 for maths and 104 for reading. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025 judged the overall effectiveness as 'not judged' because it was a graded inspection following a previous outstanding rating, but leadership and management were rated outstanding, and early years provision also outstanding. Quality of education, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all rated good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, music rooms, a sensory room, a forest school area, playing fields, an ICT suite and a chapel. Sports on offer include swimming, rounders, cricket, gymnastics, cross country and tennis, while clubs cover chess, book club, coding, science club and film club. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent View responses from 100 respondents were overwhelmingly positive: 99 per cent would recommend the school, and 86 per cent strongly agreed that their child is happy there. This is a school that feels well-run and well-liked by its community, but one where academic outcomes are more modest than some local alternatives, so it may suit families who prioritise pastoral strength and a broad offer over headline results.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Pontesbury CofE Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents