Prestbury St Mary's Church of England Junior School

About Prestbury St Mary's Church of England Junior School

Prestbury St Mary's Church of England Junior School sits in a middle-of-the-pack position within Gloucestershire's primary landscape, with 56% of its pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2. That figure is just three percentage points below the local authority average of 59%, placing the school 118th out of 243 primaries in the county. In Cheltenham specifically, it ranks 12th out of 22 schools, putting it in the bottom half of its immediate area. The school's overall Ofsted rating of Good, confirmed in an ungraded inspection in 2023, represents a shift from its previous Outstanding grade awarded back in 2009. Leadership and management, as well as the quality of education, are both rated Good. For parents weighing up options, this is a solidly performing junior school that tracks close to the LA norm rather than pulling ahead of it.

Digging into the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results reveals a mixed picture. Reading is the strongest subject, with an average scaled score of 108 and 42% of pupils reaching the higher standard, well above the national expectation. Maths follows with an average score of 104 and 19% achieving the higher threshold, while 75% met the expected standard in maths. Writing lags behind, with 61% reaching the expected standard and no pupils hitting the higher mark. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. The school's ranking score of 56 on the KS2 reading, writing and maths expected metric places it in the bottom 50% nationally, at the 67th percentile. For context, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Gloucester Road Primary School, 3.1 kilometres away.

The school is oversubscribed, with 268 pupils on roll against a capacity of 240, and 17.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals. Facilities include a sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, art studios, a chapel and a sensory room, alongside an ICT suite and dining hall. Sports on offer include tennis, netball, football, rounders, cross country and cricket, while clubs range from choir and drama to coding, eco club and chess. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and other difficulties. This is a Church of England junior school for ages 7 to 11, with a mixed intake and no nursery or sixth form. It will suit families in Cheltenham looking for a Good-rated state option with a broad range of activities and a clear focus on reading attainment.

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