Norbury Primary School and Nursery

Norbury Primary School and Nursery is a small village school that is performing at an outstanding level across all key judgements. Pupils thrive academically, personally and socially, behaviour and relationships are excellent, and staff have high aspirations for every pupil. The curriculum is carefully designed for mixed-aged classes, teaching and assessment are highly effective, and pupils build a rich body of knowledge across subjects. Reading and phonics are particular strengths, with children in Reception learning sounds quickly and pupils becoming confident, fluent readers by the end of Year 2. Pupils with SEND are identified early and supported well, and children in the early years make a fantastic start. Personal development is exceptional, with a wide range of experiences and activities that nurture pupils’ talents and interests. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains outstanding following its previous inspection in 2014. The school is part of the Shropshire Hills Federation, shares premises and classes with another primary school, and has a before-school provision and provision for two-year-olds. Governors are passionate and share the school’s high ambition, and safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Strengths

• Curriculum is carefully constructed for mixed-aged classes and builds effectively from the early years
• Teachers deliver subjects very effectively and use assessment well to address gaps and misconceptions
• Staff are well trained to deliver the phonics programme consistently
• Reading is a strength, with a love of reading promoted across the school
• Pupils with SEND are identified early and receive specific, effective support
• Children in the early years make a fantastic start to school life
• Provision for pupils’ personal development is exceptional
• Pupils behave extremely well and relationships between staff and pupils are particularly strong
• Nearly all pupils attend school well
• Governors are passionate, share the school’s high ambition and consider staff workload and well-being
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

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 Norbury Primary School and Nursery attended 96.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.8% 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 Norbury Primary School and Nursery 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 Norbury Primary School and Nursery had 14.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 23.8% 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, 15.7% of pupils at Norbury Primary School and Nursery 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 Norbury Primary School and Nursery received £8,943 and spent £9,034 for each of its 64 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £105,000 (£1,661 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 Shropshire · Shropshire local authority: places and applications

What is Norbury Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Norbury Primary School and Nursery is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Norbury Primary School and Nursery last inspected by Ofsted?

Norbury Primary School and Nursery was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Norbury Primary School and Nursery have?

Norbury Primary School and Nursery has 70 pupils on roll.

What age range does Norbury Primary School and Nursery cover?

Norbury Primary School and Nursery for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Norbury Primary School and Nursery's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Norbury Primary School and Nursery?

Norbury Primary School and Nursery is at Norbury, Bishops Castle, Shropshire, SY9 5EA.