Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School

Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School is performing well, with an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school has shown notable strengths in its early years provision, which stands out as outstanding, contributing significantly to the foundation of learning for pupils. Committed staff create an inclusive and safe environment where pupils thrive and excel academically, particularly in reading, thanks to a well-implemented phonics program and an engaging curriculum. Despite these successes, the school faces some challenges in ensuring all subjects reach the same depth of knowledge across different groups of pupils, particularly in newer curriculum areas such as music and Spanish.

Strengths

• Outstanding early years provision
• Purposeful and interesting learning environments
• Effective phonics instruction ensuring confident readers
• Strong development of character and personal growth
• Commitment to inclusive practices for pupils with SEND
• Welcoming and safe atmosphere for all students

Areas for Improvement

• Some groups do not have the same depth of knowledge in newer subjects
• Checking systems for long-term knowledge retention need refinement

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 Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School attended 93.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.2% 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, 1.4% of pupils at Winchcombe Abbey Church of England 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 Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School had 20.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.8% 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, 18.8% of pupils at Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.8% 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 Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School received £6,567 and spent £6,619 for each of its 282 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £180,000 (£637 per pupil).

Across all 25 schools of The Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust, income was £6,887 and spending £6,916 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 Cheltenham · Gloucestershire local authority: places and applications

Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School is part of The Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust, which runs 25 schools. The nearest others:

• Christ Church CofE Primary School Cheltenham
• St James' Church of England Primary School Cheltenham
• Blockley Church of England Primary School Moreton-In-Marsh
• St David's Church of England Primary School Moreton-In-Marsh
• North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy Cirencester
• St James' Church of England Junior School Gloucester
• Hatherley Infant School Gloucester
• Bibury Church of England Primary School Cirencester
• Field Court Church of England Infant Academy Gloucester
• Clearwater Church of England Primary Academy Gloucester

What is Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School have?

Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School has 261 pupils on roll.

What age range does Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School cover?

Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School?

Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School is at Back Lane, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 5PZ.