Watling Street Primary School

Watling Street Primary School has transitioned to a 'Good' rating after previously being classified as 'Outstanding' over a decade ago. This marked the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with the previous inspection being exempted from regular review for a significant period. The school fosters a supportive environment where pupils demonstrate strong pride in their community and exhibit positive attitudes towards their learning. The leadership team maintains high expectations for both staff and students, contributing to a conducive learning atmosphere.

Strengths

• Pupils take pride in their school and community.
• High expectations contribute to positive behaviour and attitudes among pupils.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Successful curriculum revisions have resulted in an ambitious educational program.
• Strong emphasis on reading, with initiatives promoting a love of literature.

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff lack effective phonics teaching skills, leading to inconsistencies.
• Teachers do not always check pupil knowledge thoroughly, resulting in gaps in understanding.
• Some subject leaders are still developing their skills in evaluating and improving their subjects.

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 Watling Street Primary School attended 94.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.3% 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, 0.8% of pupils at Watling Street Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were 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 Watling Street Primary School had 20.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 19.6% of pupils at Watling Street Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.4% 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 Watling Street Primary School received £7,537 and spent £7,572 for each of its 228 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £143,000 (£627 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

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What is Watling Street Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Watling Street Primary School is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

When was Watling Street Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Watling Street Primary School was last inspected in January 2023.

How many pupils does Watling Street Primary School have?

Watling Street Primary School has 235 pupils on roll.

What age range does Watling Street Primary School cover?

Watling Street Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Watling Street Primary School?

Watling Street Primary School is at Watling Street, Brownhills, Walsall, West Midlands, WS8 7LW.