Highnam CofE Primary Academy

Highnam CofE Primary Academy has demonstrated a strong overall performance with a 'Good' rating in the recent inspection. The school's foundation on outstanding behaviour and attitudes among pupils, along with exceptional personal development, sets a positive environment for learning. Notably, the school has adapted well post-pandemic and has high expectations for academic achievement, particularly in reading and mathematics. However, it does face challenges in fully embedding the curriculum for some foundation subjects, which is crucial for the comprehensive development of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This is the first inspection for the school after an extended period due to prior exemptions, so the context of these findings is significant as they navigate improvements from a prior 'Outstanding' rating.

Strengths

• Outstanding behaviour and attitudes of pupils.
• Exceptional personal development opportunities for all pupils.
• Strong emphasis on reading and mathematics leading to good academic outcomes.
• Inclusive environment for pupils with SEND.
• High levels of pastoral support for pupils and families.
• Effective leadership and staff support within the school.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum in some foundation subjects is not fully embedded.

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 Highnam CofE Primary Academy attended 96.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.0% 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, 4.6% of pupils at Highnam CofE Primary Academy 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 Highnam CofE Primary Academy had 19.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.2% 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, 12.1% of pupils at Highnam CofE Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.9% 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 2024–25 Highnam CofE Primary Academy received £6,312 and spent £6,488 for each of its 216 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £103,000 (£477 per pupil).

Across all 10 schools of Primary Quest Multi-Academy Trust, income was £7,248 and spending £6,915 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Gloucester · Gloucestershire local authority: places and applications

Highnam CofE Primary Academy is part of Primary Quest Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Tibberton Community Primary School and Early Years Gloucester
• Hartpury Church of England Primary School Gloucester
• Staunton and Corse Church of England Primary School Gloucester
• Hope Brook CofE Primary School Longhope
• Redmarley Church of England Primary School Gloucester
• Bromesberrow St Mary's Church of England Primary School Ledbury
• Ann Cam Church of England Primary School Dymock
• Gretton Primary School Cheltenham
• Oak Hill Church of England Primary School Tewkesbury

What is Highnam CofE Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Highnam CofE Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was Highnam CofE Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Highnam CofE Primary Academy was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does Highnam CofE Primary Academy have?

Highnam CofE Primary Academy has 206 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highnam CofE Primary Academy cover?

Highnam CofE Primary Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Highnam CofE Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Highnam CofE Primary Academy?

Highnam CofE Primary Academy is at Wetherleigh Drive, Highnam, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL2 8LW.