St Andrew's CofE First School

St Andrew's CofE First School is an inclusive, average-sized first school where staff have high ambitions for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. Inspectors found pupils achieve well, behaviour and attendance are strong, and relationships between adults and pupils are warm and respectful. The school's personal development work is a standout feature, with an extensive range of clubs, trips, leadership roles and character education preparing pupils exceptionally well for later life. The curriculum is ambitious and reading is a priority, with strong phonics teaching and effective targeted support. Pupils with SEND are very well supported, and children in the early years settle quickly and become confident communicators. Leadership is dedicated, parents are positive, and safeguarding is effective. The main area for improvement is that some staff do not routinely adapt their teaching to extend pupils who are ready for new content, which slows learning for those pupils. This was the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection since 2013; under the current framework it did not receive an overall effectiveness grade.

Strengths

• Ambitious curriculum and high expectations help all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, achieve well.
• Strong phonics teaching and targeted reading support help most pupils read at an age-appropriate level.
• Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and receive bespoke support that helps them overcome barriers to learning.
• Warm, inclusive culture with strong behaviour, high attendance and respectful relationships.
• Exceptional personal development through clubs, trips, leadership roles and character education.
• Children in early years settle well, become strong communicators and are well prepared for Year 1.
• Dedicated leaders work effectively with parents and are attentive to staff workload and wellbeing.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff do not routinely adapt teaching to extend pupils who are ready for new content, which slows their learning.

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 St Andrew's CofE First School attended 97.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.5% 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, 0.9% of pupils at St Andrew's 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 St Andrew's CofE First School had 19.6 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, 13.8% of pupils at St Andrew's CofE First School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.4% 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 St Andrew's CofE First School received £6,395 and spent £6,379 for each of its 218 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £30,000 (£136 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 Birmingham · Birmingham local authority: places and applications

What is St Andrew's CofE First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Andrew's CofE First School is Good, from an inspection in December 2024.

When was St Andrew's CofE First School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Andrew's CofE First School was last inspected in December 2024.

How many pupils does St Andrew's CofE First School have?

St Andrew's CofE First School has 218 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Andrew's CofE First School cover?

St Andrew's CofE First School for pupils aged 5 to 9.

Where is St Andrew's CofE First School?

St Andrew's CofE First School is at Hewell Road, Barnt Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, B45 8NG.