Knightlow CofE Primary School

Knightlow C of E Primary School is a friendly, welcoming community school where pupils feel safe and are ambitious for their learning. This was its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, following a long period of exemption after an outstanding judgement in 2012, and it has a new headteacher who started in September 2024. The school performs strongly overall: reading is central to its work, pupils achieve exceptionally well in reading, writing and mathematics, and provision in the early years is exceptionally strong. Pupils with SEND are identified early and supported skilfully, behaviour and attendance are good, and a rich wider curriculum and sporting offer enhance pupils’ experience. Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school. The main areas for improvement lie in the wider foundation curriculum and in safeguarding record-keeping. Some foundation subjects are being revised because the previous curriculum did not always build well enough on prior knowledge, and in some of these subjects teachers do not consistently use assessment to check that pupils fully understand what they have been taught. Safeguarding arrangements are effective overall, but until very recently the system for recording and sharing concerns was not robust, with records not always complete or centrally stored; a new system is being introduced but is at an early stage. Governors have an accurate understanding of strengths and development needs, and staff feel valued and well supported.

Strengths

• Warm, nurturing relationships create a safe and welcoming community.
• The school is ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with SEND.
• Pupils achieve exceptionally well in reading, writing and mathematics.
• Reading sits at the heart of the school’s work, with effective phonics and a strong reading culture.
• The curriculum in English, mathematics and science is meticulously planned and sequenced.
• Early years provision gives children an exceptionally strong start.
• Staff identify and support pupils with SEND skilfully and inclusively.
• Pupils behave well, attend well and take on responsibilities.
• A rich range of wider opportunities, including a strong sporting offer, enhances the curriculum.
• Parents are overwhelmingly positive about all aspects of school life.
• Governors are actively involved and understand the school’s strengths and development areas.
• Staff feel valued and appreciate support for their well-being and professional learning.

Areas for Improvement

• Safeguarding record-keeping was not robust until very recently, with records not always complete or centrally stored.
• The new safeguarding recording system is in its early stages and further work is needed to ensure all aspects of safeguarding can be reviewed.
• Foundation subjects are not as well designed and sequenced as they should be, affecting the knowledge pupils retain.
• In some foundation subjects, teachers do not use assessment well enough to check pupils’ understanding and secure prior knowledge.

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 Knightlow CofE Primary School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.9% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Knightlow CofE 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 Knightlow CofE Primary School had 23.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.8% 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, 10.7% of pupils at Knightlow CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.6% 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 Knightlow CofE Primary School received £6,956 and spent £6,708 for each of its 214 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £98,000 (£459 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 Rugby · Warwickshire local authority: places and applications

What is Knightlow CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Knightlow CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Knightlow CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Knightlow CofE Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Knightlow CofE Primary School have?

Knightlow CofE Primary School has 214 pupils on roll.

What age range does Knightlow CofE Primary School cover?

Knightlow CofE Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Knightlow CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Knightlow CofE Primary School?

Knightlow CofE Primary School is at Hill Crescent, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9NF.