St Michael's CofE (A) First School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Market Place, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5DJ

01785 712344 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card7 expectedSafeguarding met · 3 February 2026
Pupils148Room for 150 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 151 in 2019, 146 in 2021, 150 in 2022, 150 in 2023, 147 in 2024, 148 in 2025, 148 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.134 for 30 places, September 2026
Joint 8th highest of 45 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 86% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 3 February 2026 , published 19 April 2026.

In short: 7 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. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets 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.

What parents say

23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Stafford comparisons use the 3 of its 45 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 42 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.

StatementThis schoolStaffordEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stafford.
Higher than 87% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 98% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stafford.
Higher than 85% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 100% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stafford.
Higher than 93% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 97% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stafford.
Higher than 88% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 92% 74%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Stafford.
Higher than 85% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100%said yes 98% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 16%). 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. Stafford figures pool parents at the Stafford 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Staffordshire. 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered30
Families who put it first34
Of those, offered a place30 (88%)
Families who listed it at all78

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1

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 Staffordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolStaffordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
25th highest of 44 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 28% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
13.5% 20.9%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
38th highest of 44 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.7% 2.1%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
38th highest of 44 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
9.5% 13.6%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
33rd highest of 44 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.7% 9.6%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
5th lowest of 43 state primary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 98% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
2.9% 4.7%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 43 state primary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 100% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
0.8% 10.2%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
18th lowest of 44 state primary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.7 2.0 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
26th lowest of 44 state primary schools in Stafford.
Lower than 50% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.7% 0.9% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.07% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 18th highest of 45 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 64% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
21.8 21.4 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 21st highest of 45 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
12.2 11.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 15th highest of 36 state primary schools in Stafford.
Higher than 65% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
17.2% 13.2%* 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 Michael's CofE (A) First School's Ofsted rating?

St Michael's CofE (A) First School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 3 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 7 expected, and safeguarding was met.

Would parents recommend St Michael's CofE (A) First School?

100% of the 23 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St Michael's CofE (A) First School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Michael's CofE (A) First School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put St Michael's CofE (A) First School as their first choice for 30 places: about 1 first-choice applications 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

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

Page updated 26 September 2026.