St John's CofE Primary Academy

St John’s CofE Primary Academy is performing well overall, effectively maintaining the standards set in its previous inspection. The school is characterized by a multicultural environment that fosters a sense of belonging among students. High expectations for behavior and academic achievement have led to a positive atmosphere where pupils feel safe and engaged. While the early years curriculum is strong, providing a solid foundation for children, some areas of the broader curriculum need improvement for clarity in what essential knowledge should be taught and retained. This will help enhance pupils' learning experience and outcomes.

Strengths

• High expectations for pupil behavior and achievement
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
• Strong early years curriculum with rapid progress for children
• Varied opportunities for outdoor learning and extra-curricular activities
• Positive parental feedback regarding school support

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum in some subjects lacks clarity on essential knowledge and concepts
• Inconsistent practices in revisiting key knowledge for retention
• Curriculum adaptations for some pupils with SEND are insufficient

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 John's CofE Primary Academy attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.2% 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, 1.0% of pupils at St John's CofE Primary Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was 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 John's CofE Primary Academy had 26.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 14.6% of pupils at St John's CofE Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.5% 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 St John's CofE Primary Academy received £5,927 and spent £6,078 for each of its 408 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £417,000 (£1,023 per pupil).

Across all 19 schools of St Chad'S Academies Trust, income was £6,975 and spending £7,330 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 Stafford · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

St John's CofE Primary Academy is part of St Chad'S Academies Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• Churchfield CofE Primary Academy Rugeley
• Bishop Lonsdale Church of England Primary Academy Stafford
• St Mary's CofE First Academy Wheaton Aston
• Brewood Middle CofE Academy Stafford
• St Matthews Church of England Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• St James Church of England Primary Academy Rugeley
• Havergal CofE (C) Primary School Wolverhampton
• Christ Church CofE Primary Academy Stoke-On-Trent
• All Saints National Academy Walsall
• Trinity CofE Primary Academy Wolverhampton

What is St John's CofE Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St John's CofE Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was St John's CofE Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

St John's CofE Primary Academy was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does St John's CofE Primary Academy have?

St John's CofE Primary Academy has 410 pupils on roll.

What age range does St John's CofE Primary Academy cover?

St John's CofE Primary Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St John's CofE Primary Academy?

St John's CofE Primary Academy is at Weston Road, Stafford, ST16 3RZ.