St John's CofE Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

Part of THE DIOCESE OF GLOUCESTER ACADEMIES TRUST

Bowens Hill Road, Coleford, GL16 8DU

01594 832046 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 strong, 6 expectedSafeguarding met · 19 May 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths54%England 62% · 2024/25
4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 24% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils155Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 162 in 2019, 155 in 2021, 168 in 2022, 158 in 2023, 166 in 2024, 154 in 2025, 155 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.58 for 15 places, September 2026
6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 1% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 19 May 2026 , published 2 July 2026.

In short: 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

24 pupils in this year group.

54% — 6 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 8 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 54% 60% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 8% 9% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 58% 76% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 79% 71% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 75% 73% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 103 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 103 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 42%This school 2023/24: 57%This school 2024/25: 54% This school England 62% 2022/23 42% 2023/24 57% 2024/25 54%

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 offered15
Families who put it first8
Of those, offered a place8 (100%)
Families who listed it at all27

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.5

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.

This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Gloucestershire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
37.0% 19.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.9% 3.6%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
30.5% 17.5%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.5% 12.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Lower than 78% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.1% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Lower than 74% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
7.9% 11.7%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Lower than 30% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.6 3.2 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.3% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.08% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 5 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 24% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
18.2 20.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 6 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 40% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.2 11.1 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Coleford.
Higher than 49% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
12.0% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St John's CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?

St John's CofE Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 19 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did St John's CofE Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 54% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points below the England average of 62%.

Is St John's CofE Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 8 families put St John's CofE Academy as their first choice for 15 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 8 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.