Thomas Russell Junior School

About Thomas Russell Junior School

Thomas Russell Junior School is a state primary in East Staffordshire, part of the Staffordshire local authority, and it sits among a competitive field of local primaries. Within the East Staffordshire area, it ranks 7th out of 23 schools, placing it in the top 25% of its immediate peers. The top-performing schools in the same LA include St John's Catholic Primary School, Woodseaves CE Primary Academy, and Needwood CofE Primary School, all of which achieved a perfect ranking score of 100. Thomas Russell's own ranking score of 77 reflects strong but not top-tier performance in the local context. The school serves 250 pupils aged 7 to 11, with a capacity of 252, and has a very low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at just 4%. It is a mixed, non-religious school with no nursery or sixth form provision, and it does not offer boarding.

Academically, Thomas Russell Junior School has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection, a significant upgrade from its previous Good rating. The inspection gave top marks for both overall effectiveness and leadership and management. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 77% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, well above the local authority average of 65%. Pupils also performed strongly in individual subjects: 88% reached the expected standard in maths, with an average score of 107, and 86% in reading, with an average score of 109. At the higher standard, 42% achieved in maths and 55% in reading, though writing at the higher level was lower at 9%. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 16% of all primaries, and in the West Midlands region it sits in the top 16% as well.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, library, ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, football, athletics, swimming, dance, rounders, and tennis, while clubs cover drama, choir, and eco club. SEND provisions are in place for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 94% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that children are happy, safe, and well-behaved. The school is oversubscribed with 252 places for 250 pupils, so early application is wise. It suits families who value strong academic outcomes, a broad range of activities, and a school that has clearly improved its Ofsted rating in recent years.

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