North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy

North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy is performing well overall, demonstrating a solid commitment to providing a good quality of education. The school environment fosters happiness and safety, with staff knowing the pupils and their families well, and there is an evident ambition for every pupil to excel. The school's Christian values and supportive atmosphere contribute to effective behaviour management and a culture where bullying is rare. Despite a significant staffing change since the last inspection, leaders have ensured that pupils study an ambitious curriculum which is broad and well-structured across year groups. However, there are areas needing improvement, particularly in how assessment information is utilized to better support pupils' learning in certain subjects.

Strengths

• Strong community feel where parents see the school as 'like a family'.
• High expectations for pupil behaviour with minimal low-level disruption.
• An effective and ambitious phonics program that supports early reading.
• Wide range of additional clubs and educational trips enhancing learning.
• Pupils demonstrate a strong love for reading.
• Good support for pupils with special educational needs.
• Strong leadership and management with committed governors.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects lack precise use of assessment information to build on prior knowledge.
• Need for improvement in pupils' independence in scientific investigations.

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 North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy attended 92.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.6% 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, 0.0% of pupils at North Cerney Church of England 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 North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy had 14.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 70.6% 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, 30.2% of pupils at North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.3% 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 North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy received £10,660 and spent £9,919 for each of its 52 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £33,000 (£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 Cirencester · Gloucestershire local authority: places and applications

North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy is part of The Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust, which runs 25 schools. The nearest others:

• Watermoor Church of England Primary School Cirencester
• Bibury Church of England Primary School Cirencester
• St James' Church of England Primary School Cheltenham
• Minchinhampton Primary Academy Stroud
• Christ Church CofE Primary School Cheltenham
• Whiteshill Primary School Stroud
• Amberley Parochial School Stroud
• St Matthew's Church of England Primary School Stroud
• St Mary's Church of England Primary School Tetbury
• Hatherley Infant School Gloucester

What is North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in June 2022.

When was North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy was last inspected in June 2022.

How many pupils does North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy have?

North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy has 43 pupils on roll.

What age range does North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy cover?

North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy?

North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy is at North Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 7BZ.