St Bartholomew's CofE VC Primary School

About St Bartholomew's CofE VC Primary School

St Bartholomew's CofE VC Primary School in Wyre Forest is a state primary with a Church of England character that currently serves 212 pupils against a capacity of 315, meaning there is room to grow. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 44.3%, which is notably high and well above the national average, reflecting a community with significant socioeconomic need. Despite this, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 25 applications for 23 places, with 20 of those coming as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.09. That suggests local families are actively choosing St Bartholomew's, even though it isn't full to capacity overall. The school also offers nursery provision for children aged two, which may be a draw for parents looking for a single-site journey from early years through to Year 6.

Academically, St Bartholomew's produces results that are broadly in line with local averages. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which matches the Worcestershire local authority average of 61%. That places the school 13th out of 27 primary schools in Wyre Forest, sitting in the bottom half of the local league table. Looking at individual subjects, reading scores were strongest: 75% of pupils met the expected standard and 21% achieved a higher standard, with an average scaled score of 105. Maths was a little weaker, with 71% at expected and just 7% at the higher level, while writing saw 64% at expected and none at the higher standard. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2023, rated it Good across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes and early years provision, maintaining the same overall rating it held in its previous inspection a decade earlier.

The school offers a solid range of facilities and provisions that should appeal to families looking for a well-supported primary experience. There is a sensory room, a chapel, a library, a gymnasium and outdoor playgrounds, plus playing fields. Sports include swimming, dance, athletics, tennis and cricket, while after-school clubs cover drama, coding, book club, art, science and film. For children with additional needs, the school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its below-capacity roll and high FSM intake, St Bartholomew's may particularly suit families who value a church school ethos and a supportive, inclusive environment, though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to look at higher-ranked local options such as Inkberrow Primary, which sits at the top of the Wyre Forest table.

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