Tibberton CofE First School

Tibberton CofE First School is a happy, successful and close-knit school where pupils are exceptionally proud, rarely absent and feel safe and well cared for. Inspectors found strong ambition realised: pupils read and write to a high standard, including those with SEND, behaviour is exemplary, and relationships underpin the school’s work. The early years provision gets children off to a strong start, phonics is taught well, and pupils benefit from a wide range of trips, visitors and responsibilities that build personal development. Leadership is strong, governors are committed, and parents hold the school in high regard. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The main areas for improvement are in mathematics, where some pupils are not taught the most effective methods for complex problems and tasks are not always challenging enough, and in assessment practice, where some teachers do not systematically check and address errors, misconceptions and gaps in learning. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection since 2014, following a period of exemption after its previous outstanding judgement.

Strengths

• Pupils are exceptionally proud of their school and rarely absent.
• Pupils feel safe and very well cared for in a genuine family atmosphere.
• Pupils read and write to a high standard, and pupils with SEND achieve equally well.
• Behaviour is exemplary, with polite, courteous and well-mannered pupils.
• Pupils show exceptionally positive attitudes and engage eagerly in lessons.
• Older pupils support younger pupils with maturity and care.
• Phonics is taught well, with prompt support for pupils who need extra help.
• The early years provision gives children a strong start and they settle impressively well.
• Mathematics teaching helps most pupils become confident and capable mathematicians.
• The curriculum is carefully designed in many areas to build links and deepen understanding over time.
• Pupils with SEND are well supported with appropriate adaptations and timely external support.
• Pupils benefit from trips, visitors, career information and responsibilities such as house captains and school councillors.
• Leaders understand what needs to improve and are held in high regard by parents.
• Governors are committed professionals supporting continual improvement.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Mathematics is not always implemented well; some pupils are not taught the most effective methods for complex problems.
• Mathematics tasks are not always challenging enough, limiting progress for some pupils.
• In some curriculum areas, teachers do not systematically check errors, misconceptions and gaps in pupils' learning.
• As a result, some pupils continue to make the same mistakes and do not learn as well as they could.

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 Tibberton CofE First School attended 95.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 3.5% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Tibberton CofE First 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 Tibberton CofE First School had 19.7 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, 22.5% of pupils at Tibberton CofE First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% 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 Tibberton CofE First School received £8,436 and spent £8,813 for each of its 71 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £45,000 (£638 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 Worcester · Worcestershire local authority: places and applications

What is Tibberton CofE First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Tibberton CofE First School is Good, from an inspection in February 2025.

When was Tibberton CofE First School last inspected by Ofsted?

Tibberton CofE First School was last inspected in February 2025.

How many pupils does Tibberton CofE First School have?

Tibberton CofE First School has 71 pupils on roll.

What age range does Tibberton CofE First School cover?

Tibberton CofE First School for pupils aged 4 to 9.

Where is Tibberton CofE First School?

Tibberton CofE First School is at Plough Road, Worcester, Tibberton Ce First School, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR9 7NL.