SchoolScoresStiperstones CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Norbury, Bishops Castle, SY9 5EA
01588 650207 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 27 June 2018.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 5 June 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, 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.
What parents say
10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
| Statement | This school | Bishops Castle | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bishops Castle. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 100% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bishops Castle. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bishops Castle. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 93% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bishops Castle. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Bishops Castle figures pool parents at the Bishops Castle 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
1 pupil in this year group.
Only 1 pupil took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
| Measure | This school | Shropshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | Not published | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | Not published | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | Not published | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Not published | 57% | Not published |
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 Shropshire. 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 | 2 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 2 |
| Of those, offered a place | 2 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 8 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.3 · 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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Shropshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 18.6%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 12.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 6.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 11.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Higher than 4% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 13.2 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Bishops Castle. Higher than 17% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.7 | 10.0 | 10.6 |
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.
Nearby primary schools
- Norbury Primary School and Nursery 0.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 89% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Stiperstones CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Stiperstones CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 27 June 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 5 June 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good and may be improving, so its next inspection will be a full graded one.
How did Stiperstones CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Would parents recommend Stiperstones CofE Primary School?
100% of the 10 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Stiperstones CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Stiperstones CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 2 families put Stiperstones CofE Primary School as their first choice for 2 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 2 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 123519.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.