SchoolScoresHeron Primary School
Foundation school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Heron Way, Abbeydale, Gloucester, GL4 4BN
01452 415105 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 11 February 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
105 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Gloucester comparisons use the 35 of its 64 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 29 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Gloucester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 31st highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucester. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 32nd highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucester. Higher than 9% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 34th highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucester. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 85% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 40 parents whose child had been bullied 27th highest of 27 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucester. Higher than 8% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 32% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 83 parents who had raised a concern 32nd highest of 32 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucester. Higher than 4% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 79% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 20 parents of children with SEND 6th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucester. Higher than 6% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 40% | 61% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 34th highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucester. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 66%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 26%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Gloucester figures pool parents at the Gloucester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
58 pupils in this year group.
55% — 5 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 55% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 5% | 9% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 76% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 78% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 66% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 60 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 49 |
| Of those, offered a place | 47 (96%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 155 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
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 34th highest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.5% | 19.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 43rd highest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 3.6%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 44th highest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.5% | 17.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 30th highest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 12.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 44th lowest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Lower than 29% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) Joint 39th lowest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Lower than 44% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 11.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 46th lowest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Lower than 20% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.0 | 3.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 23rd lowest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Higher than 82% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.5 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 9th highest of 64 state primary schools in Gloucester. Higher than 90% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.7 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 50th highest of 58 state primary schools in Gloucester. Higher than 17% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 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
- Hillside Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Abbeymead Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Coney Hill Community Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Upton St Leonards CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Finlay Community School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dinglewell Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dinglewell Infant School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Coopers Edge School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hatherley Infant School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion)
- Barnwood CofE Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Heron Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 11 February 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Heron Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 55% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Heron Primary School?
66% of the 105 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Heron Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Heron Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 49 families put Heron Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 47 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 115749.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.