St Michael's CofE (A) First School

St Michael's CofE First School is performing well overall, demonstrating a strong standard of education with notable strengths in safeguarding practices and pupil support. Leaders have established a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and valued, and there is a positive culture around attendance and community involvement. Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs, generally make steady progress, especially in reading and mathematics, although some areas require improvement, particularly in writing where younger pupils are still developing key skills.

Strengths

• Strong safeguarding culture ensuring pupils feel safe
• Steady progress in reading and mathematics for all pupils
• Broad and balanced curriculum with clear learning objectives
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils fostering a settled atmosphere
• Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND

Areas for Improvement

• Variability in the quality of writing among younger pupils
• Some teachers do not consistently help pupils deepen understanding in wider curriculum subjects
• Opportunities to enhance children's vocabulary in early years are sometimes missed

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 Michael's CofE (A) First School attended 97.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 0.8% 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, 0.7% of pupils at St Michael's CofE (A) 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 Michael's CofE (A) First School had 21.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.2% 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 St Michael's CofE (A) 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 Michael's CofE (A) First School received £7,647 and spent £7,247 for each of its 148 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £239,000 (£1,613 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 Stafford · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

What is St Michael's CofE (A) First School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Michael's CofE (A) First School is Expected standard, from an inspection in April 2026.

When was St Michael's CofE (A) First School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Michael's CofE (A) First School was last inspected in April 2026.

How many pupils does St Michael's CofE (A) First School have?

St Michael's CofE (A) First School has 148 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Michael's CofE (A) First School cover?

St Michael's CofE (A) First School for pupils aged 3 to 9.

Where is St Michael's CofE (A) First School?

St Michael's CofE (A) First School is at Market Place, Penkridge, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST19 5DJ.