Valley Primary

About Valley Primary

Valley Primary is a state primary school in Solihull that is clearly in high demand. With 597 pupils on roll against a capacity of 710, the school is not yet at full capacity, but the admissions data tells a different story. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 129 applications for just 71 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.82 applicants per place. Of those 129 applications, 69 were first-preference choices, and exactly 69 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who put Valley as their top choice secured a spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15.2%, which is slightly above the national average for primary schools, suggesting a reasonably mixed intake in terms of socio-economic background. The school serves children from age 3 through to 11, with nursery provision available, and has no religious character. Headteacher Susan Milewski leads a mixed-gender school that clearly commands strong local loyalty.

Academically, Valley Primary has made a notable improvement in recent years. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in June 2023, the school achieved a Good rating across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all scored a 2. This represents a significant step up from its previous inspection in October 2019, when the school was rated Requires Improvement across the board, with all categories scoring a 3. The turnaround in leadership and teaching quality is clear. While the school does not publish its Key Stage 2 SATs results in the data provided, the local authority average for KS2 attainment in Solihull is 67, and Valley sits within a competitive local landscape. Among its top peer schools in the area are St Alphege Church of England Junior School, Monkspath Junior and Infant School, and Knowle Church of England Primary Academy, all of which score highly on local rankings.

For families considering Valley Primary, the practical offering is strong. The school boasts a range of facilities including an ICT suite, sports hall, dining hall, playing fields, a sensory room, and even a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, athletics, dance, cricket, and cross country, while after-school clubs include gardening, chess, coding, drama, and art club. The school’s SEND provision is particularly comprehensive, with support available for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication difficulties, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is also a resourced provision on site. For parents seeking a Good-rated primary with strong local demand and a broad curriculum, Valley Primary is a solid choice, though those wanting an Outstanding rating will need to look at Oak Cottage Primary School, which is three kilometres away.

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