Walmore Hill Primary School
59%
Capacity
41
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Walmore Hill Primary School
Walmore Hill Primary School is a small state primary in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, currently operating well below its capacity. With 41 pupils against a school capacity of 70, it is one of the smaller primaries in the local authority. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.6%, which is slightly above the national average for primary schools in England, though it is worth noting the school serves a rural area where deprivation can be less visible. Despite its size, the school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving three applications for its single available place, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3:1. All three applicants listed it as a first preference, and one first-preference offer was made, indicating strong local demand for a school that clearly has a loyal following among families in the catchment.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 judged its overall effectiveness as not graded, but the inspection found the quality of education requires improvement, alongside early years provision. However, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were all rated Good. This represents a decline from the previous inspection in 2017, when the school was rated Good overall. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results in the data provided, so it is not possible to compare its academic performance directly against the local authority average of 59% achieving the expected standard. The Ofsted report notes that while pupils behave well and feel safe, the curriculum is not yet consistently well-delivered across all subjects, which is the main area flagged for improvement.
The school offers a surprisingly broad range of facilities for its size, including an ICT suite, art studios, a sports hall, library, sensory room, and even a chapel. Sports include tennis, football, cross country, and dance, while clubs cover coding, choir, gardening, and eco club. The school’s SEND provisions are clearly defined, supporting pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and other difficulties or disabilities. This makes it a potentially strong choice for families with children who need additional support in a small, nurturing setting. Given its rural location, small roll, and oversubscribed status, Walmore Hill is best suited to families living close by who value a tight-knit community feel and are comfortable with a school that is actively working to improve its academic delivery.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Walmore Hill, Gloucester, Forest of Dean, GL2 8LA |
| Headteacher | Kirsty Evans |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 41 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.6% |
| School Capacity | 41 / 70 (59% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed1
3
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
1 families put this school as their 1st choice (33% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British58.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Walmore Hill Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Walmore Hill, Gloucester
Forest of Dean, GL2 8LA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Walmore Hill Primary School!
Write a Review