Radbrook Primary School

About Radbrook Primary School

Radbrook Primary School in Shropshire is a mixed state primary for ages 3 to 11, and it’s a school that local families clearly want to get into. With 328 pupils on roll against a capacity of 330, it’s running almost full, and the demand is striking: for 43 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, there were 141 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.28. All 33 first-preference applicants were offered places, but that still leaves a lot of families disappointed. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 9.3%, which is below the national average for primary schools, suggesting the intake skews towards more advantaged households. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Emma Thelwell. It also has nursery provision, so children can start before Reception, and the facilities include a forest school, library, gymnasium, sports hall and playing fields — a solid physical environment for a school of this size.

Academically, Radbrook sits in the middle of the pack. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 60% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just above the Shropshire local authority average of 59%. The school ranks 44th out of 88 primaries in the LA on this measure, placing it in the bottom half but not far from the median. At the higher end, only 2% achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, though individual subject scores were stronger: 29% reached the higher standard in reading, 13% in maths and 6% in writing. Average scaled scores were 105 in reading and 103 in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was an ungraded visit that confirmed standards were maintained, and its previous graded inspection in 2013 rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management also Good. There’s no data on pupil progress, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds, but the outcomes are broadly in line with the local picture.

The parent view, based on 64 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, paints a largely positive but nuanced picture. 89% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 94% felt their child is safe. However, only 78% would recommend the school to another parent. On SEND support, opinions were more divided: 60% agreed the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 30% disagreed, and 10% didn’t know. The school lists provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, visual impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. Clubs include drama, choir, chess and film club, and sports on offer are tennis, football, netball, cross country, cricket and athletics. For families who can secure a place, Radbrook offers a well-resourced, popular local option with a good Ofsted rating and a balanced academic record, though the oversubscription means it’s not an easy school to get into.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Radbrook Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents