St John's CofE Primary School

About St John's CofE Primary School

St John's CofE Primary School in Birmingham is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school has a capacity of 492 pupils and currently enrols 454, so there is some room, but the demand is intense. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 137 applications for just 54 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.54. Of those applications, 51 were first-preference offers, meaning the vast majority of successful families had it as their top choice. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 50.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average and reflects the inner-city context of Birmingham. This intake profile is a key part of the school's character, and it shapes the support and resources the staff prioritise.

Academically, St John's presents a mixed picture. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 58% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is slightly below the Birmingham local authority average of 63%, and it places the school in the bottom 50 nationally on this metric. However, the school's average scores in reading and maths both sit at 104, which is exactly the national average scaled score. The proportion reaching the higher standard is lower: 8% in the combined measure, with 27% hitting the higher bar in maths and 25% in reading. Ofsted inspected the school in June 2025 and rated it Good across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour, personal development and early years. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2014, but the inspectors clearly found a school that is effective and well-led under headteacher Naomi Hedges.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, a sports hall, a library, a gymnasium, a chapel and a Forest School, which supports outdoor learning. Clubs such as gardening, chess, choir and eco club give pupils plenty to get involved with beyond the classroom. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing impairment and physical disability, among others. Parent views are largely positive: 85% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree that their child is happy and feels safe. However, responses on SEND support and how concerns are handled show some division, with 14% disagreeing that SEND children get the support they need. This is a school that suits families who value a Church of England ethos and a diverse, inclusive intake, but who are realistic about academic outcomes being around the national average rather than pushing into the top tiers.

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