SchoolScoresGardners Lane Primary School
Foundation school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of Child and Family Learning Trust
Gardners Lane, Swindon Road, Cheltenham, GL51 9JW
01242 515761 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 July 2014.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 17 July 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good but had some concerns, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
42 pupils in this year group.
50% — 10 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 12 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 50% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 9% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 62% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 57% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 64% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Gloucestershire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 32 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 31 |
| Of those, offered a place | 30 (97%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 52 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 38.9% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 14th highest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.6%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.1% | 17.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 34.2% | 12.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 44th lowest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.8% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 43rd lowest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 25.1% | 11.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 43rd lowest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 3.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 41st lowest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 8% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.36% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 33rd highest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 22% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.9 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 32nd highest of 45 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 40% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.2 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 20th highest of 42 state primary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 52% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 15.0%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Gloucester Road Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2025 · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Catholic School of Saint Gregory the Great 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dunalley Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rowanfield Infant School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Rowanfield Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dean Close Airthrie 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Swindon Village Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hesters Way Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 3 expected · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Gardners Lane Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Gardners Lane Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 July 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 17 July 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good but had some concerns, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
How did Gardners Lane Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 50% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Gardners Lane Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 31 families put Gardners Lane Primary School as their first choice for 32 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 30 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 131249.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.