Cape Primary School

Cape Primary School has shown significant improvement since its last inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' across all key areas. Pupils report feeling safe, supported, and valued within a nurturing school community that emphasizes inclusivity and resilience. A well-structured curriculum, particularly in reading and mathematics, is helping pupils achieve more while providing opportunities for personal development and community engagement. However, there are still areas that require attention, such as the clarity of subject-specific knowledge leaders want pupils to learn and the implementation of effective assessment methods. Attendance remains a concern, with a notable number of pupils being absent, which impacts their overall learning progress. The school leadership has a clear vision and plans to address these issues systematically moving forward.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on pupils' happiness and sense of belonging
• Effective teaching of reading and phonics
• Well-trained staff support early years children's development
• Involvement of pupils in community service and leadership roles
• Positive relationships between staff and parents
• Good overall behaviour and attitudes of pupils

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects lack clarity in the curriculum regarding what pupils should learn
• Assessment methods in some areas are not used effectively to gauge pupil progress
• Attendance issues affecting a significant number of pupils

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Cape Primary School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.7% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.5% of pupils at Cape Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Cape Primary School had 20.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 34.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.5% of pupils at Cape Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Cape Primary School received £8,750 and spent £8,507 for each of its 472 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £779,000 (£1,652 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Smethwick · Sandwell local authority: places and applications

What is Cape Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cape Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Cape Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cape Primary School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Cape Primary School have?

Cape Primary School has 488 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cape Primary School cover?

Cape Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Cape Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 47% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Cape Primary School?

Cape Primary School is at Cape Hill, Smethwick, West Midlands, B66 4SH.