St Mary's Church of England Infant School

About St Mary's Church of England Infant School

St Mary’s Church of England Infant School serves children from age four to seven in Cheltenham, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across every category, including overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision. That’s a notable shift from its previous inspection in 2009, when it was judged Outstanding overall. The school is a state primary with a Church of England character, and it currently has 178 pupils on roll, just two short of its capacity of 180. With 9.6 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, it sits slightly below the national average for disadvantage. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment in Gloucestershire is 59 per cent, but since St Mary’s is an infant school that finishes at Year 2, it does not participate in KS2 SATs, so a direct comparison isn’t possible. However, the school’s strong early years and behaviour ratings suggest solid foundations for its youngest learners.

Academically, the school’s most recent graded inspection gives a clear picture of its strengths. The quality of education was judged Good, as were personal development and behaviour and attitudes, with the early years provision also rated Good. The leadership and management team, led by headteacher Matthew Ferris, received the same Good rating. While the school lacks published Progress 8 or KS2 SATs data because of its infant-only age range, the Ofsted report notes that pupils achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of their education. The school’s previous Outstanding rating in 2009 indicates a history of high standards, though the most recent inspection reflects a more measured current performance. In the wider Gloucestershire context, only nine out of 243 primary schools hold an Outstanding rating, so St Mary’s Good grade places it in the solid majority. The nearest Outstanding alternative is Gloucester Road Primary School, 3.1 kilometres away.

For families considering St Mary’s, the practical picture is one of high demand. The school received 148 applications for 60 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 85 first-preference applications and 60 offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.47. That means parents need to rank it highly to stand a chance. Facilities include an ICT suite, library, sensory room, chapel, and playing fields, plus a dining hall. Sports on offer range from swimming and athletics to cricket and tennis, while clubs include drama, eco club, choir, art club, and book club. The school supports pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as speech, language and communication needs. It does not have a nursery or sixth form. This is a church school that suits families looking for a strong start in a popular, well-regarded infant setting with a clear focus on early development and a supportive community feel.

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