The Howard Primary School

About The Howard Primary School

The Howard Primary School is a small state primary in Lichfield, Staffordshire, serving just 74 pupils aged 4 to 11. It sits within a competitive local landscape: among the 34 primary schools in the Lichfield local authority area, it ranks 9th overall based on the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. That places it in the top quarter of schools locally, though it is outpaced by three top-performing peers — St John's Catholic Primary School, Needwood CofE Primary School, and Woodseaves CE Primary Academy — each of which achieved a perfect ranking score of 100. Across the wider Staffordshire authority, which includes 308 primary schools, Howard ranks 44th. The school is non-religious, mixed, and led by headteacher Jonathan Wynn. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in March 2024, rated the school Good overall, with two standout areas: personal development and behaviour and attitudes were both judged Outstanding.

Academically, The Howard Primary School performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths — comfortably ahead of the Staffordshire local authority average of 65%. Reading was a particular strength, with every single pupil reaching the expected standard and 33% working at a higher level. In maths, 89% hit the expected standard and 56% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 112. Writing saw 89% at expected and 44% at a higher level. The school's combined expected standard score of 78 places it in the top 25% nationally and the top 14% of primaries in the West Midlands region. Ofsted's breakdown backs this up: quality of education and leadership and management were both rated Good, while personal development and behaviour and attitudes were Outstanding. The previous inspection in 2018 also rated the school Good overall, so the school has maintained a consistent standard.

The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 29 applications for just 13 places and 12 first-preference offers made — a ratio of 2.23 applicants per place. This reflects its strong local reputation. Facilities include a sports hall, library, ICT suite, music rooms, a sensory room, and a forest school, plus playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, football, gymnastics, dance, rounders, swimming and cross country, while clubs range from art and chess to coding and science. The school supports pupils with moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no nursery or sixth form. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic foundations in a small, well-regarded setting, with a particular emphasis on personal development and behaviour — and who are prepared to compete for a place.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The Howard Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents