St Francis CofE Primary School

St Francis CofE Primary has transitioned from an Outstanding rating to a Good rating in its recent inspection, reflecting a solid overall performance despite the long gap since the last inspection. The school is credited with a strong focus on reading and mathematical understanding, which supports pupils' academic growth and engagement. Personal development is well catered for, with positive relationships between staff and pupils contributing to a nurturing school environment. However, some areas within the wider curriculum could benefit from improved assessment practices to track pupils' knowledge retention more effectively.

Strengths

• Positive relationships between staff and pupils promote trust and safety.
• Strong emphasis on reading fosters a love for literature among pupils.
• Ambitious and broad curriculum designed to meet the needs of all learners.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Pupils show positive attitudes to learning and take pride in their achievements.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment in wider curriculum subjects is not yet used effectively to identify gaps in 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 Francis CofE Primary School attended 96.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.2% 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, 0.2% of pupils at St Francis 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 St Francis CofE Primary School had 22.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.5% 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, 16.4% of pupils at St Francis CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.2% 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 Francis CofE Primary School received £6,254 and spent £6,491 for each of its 432 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £34,000 (£79 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

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What is St Francis CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Francis CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was St Francis CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Francis CofE Primary School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does St Francis CofE Primary School have?

St Francis CofE Primary School has 432 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Francis CofE Primary School cover?

St Francis CofE Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Francis CofE Primary School?

St Francis CofE Primary School is at Aiken Road, Taw Hill, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN25 1UH.