St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School

About St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School

St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School in South Staffordshire is a state primary that is clearly in high demand. With 411 pupils on roll against a capacity of 435, the school is running very close to full, and the 2025/26 admissions data tells a story of significant oversubscription. For 60 places, the school received 142 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.37. Of those, 69 were first-preference applications, and 59 first-preference offers were made, meaning even families who put it as their top choice were not guaranteed a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 11.2%, which is below the national average for primary schools, suggesting a relatively affluent intake. The school is a Church of England school, which may influence its admissions criteria, and it also offers nursery provision for children from age three.

Academically, St Bartholomew's is a standout performer. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, it was judged Outstanding across every graded category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. This continues a pattern of excellence, as its previous inspection in 2014 also rated it Outstanding overall. At Key Stage 2, 95% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to a local authority average of 64%. A quarter of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects. In maths, 59% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 111, while in reading the average score was 109. The school ranks first out of 18 primary schools in South Staffordshire for its combined expected standard, placing it in the top 1% nationally.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a forest school, chapel, gymnasium, and ICT suite, and runs clubs such as coding, gardening, chess, choir and film club. Sports on offer include football, athletics, gymnastics, rounders, cross country and swimming. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and sensory impairments. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 95% of respondents would recommend the school, and 90% strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes within a Church of England setting, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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