Pucklechurch CofE VC Primary School

About Pucklechurch CofE VC Primary School

Pucklechurch CofE VC Primary School’s Key Stage 2 results comfortably outpace the local authority average for primary schools. In the 2023/24 academic year, 72% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a South Gloucestershire average of 61%. That eleven-point gap puts the school in the top 20% of primaries nationally for this combined measure. Reading is a particular strength: 89% of pupils met the expected standard and a third achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 107. Maths is solid too, with 76% at expected and an average score of 103, though only 16% reached the higher threshold. Writing is the weakest of the three core subjects, with 78% at expected and no pupils hitting the higher standard. Overall, the school ranks 14th out of 69 primary schools in South Gloucestershire, placing it comfortably in the top quarter of the local authority.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2017, rated it Good overall, with Good marks for leadership and management, early years provision, and the quality of education. An ungraded inspection in March 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. That’s a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015, when it was judged Requires Improvement. The current headteacher, Alexandra Capel, leads a small school of 184 pupils against a capacity of 240, so there is some spare space. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 10.9%, slightly below the national average. The school’s Church of England character is reflected in its on-site chapel, and facilities include a library, sports hall, playing fields and an ICT suite. Sports on offer include athletics, tennis, netball, rounders, dance and football, while clubs cover art, drama, science and coding.

Admissions for the 2025/26 intake show the school is oversubscribed: 22 first-preference applications were received for 22 places, with 31 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.41. That suggests strong local demand, though the school is not among the very hardest to get into in the area. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Mangotsfield Church of England Primary School, 3.2 km away. Pucklechurch is a good fit for families who want a solidly performing village primary with a Church of England ethos, strong reading outcomes, and a broad range of extracurricular activities, without the intense competition for places seen at some of the top-ranked schools in the county.

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