Priestley Primary School

About Priestley Primary School

Priestley Primary School in Wiltshire is a popular choice among local families, with 71 applications for 45 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.58. Of those, 43 first-preference families were offered a spot, suggesting strong local demand. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024 rated it Good across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision, and leadership and management — a consistent improvement from its previous Good rating in 2013. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the oversubscription figures and sustained Good Ofsted grade are practical signals that families in the area view it favourably. Headteacher Luke Coles leads a mixed primary for ages 4 to 11, with 275 pupils on roll against a capacity of 315, so there is some room to grow.

Academically, Priestley’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 are mixed. Just 24% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well below the Wiltshire local authority average of 58%. The school ranks 156th out of 159 primaries in the county on this measure, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. Looking at individual subjects, 52% met the expected standard in reading (average score 100), 31% in maths (average score 96), and 79% in writing. A small proportion reached the higher standard: 7% in reading and 7% in writing, with none in maths. Progress scores are not available, so it is unclear how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The 34.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals is notably above the national average, which may partly contextualise the attainment figures.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a library, forest school, playing fields, sensory room and chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, tennis, dance, football, cricket, gymnastics and swimming, while clubs range from book club and coding to drama, eco club, science club and gardening. SEND support is available for moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and other difficulties. Priestley is a state-funded day school with no nursery or sixth form. Given its oversubscribed status and Good Ofsted rating, it is likely to suit families who prioritise a supportive, well-regarded local primary with strong pastoral and enrichment offerings, though those focused on top-tier academic outcomes may want to explore higher-performing options within the county.

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