Princethorpe Infant School

Princethorpe Infant School is performing exceptionally well. Inspectors found that pupils thrive in a highly ambitious and caring environment, with all key judgements judged outstanding. The school has a clear, well-sequenced curriculum and strong early reading and phonics provision, so pupils achieve highly and are well prepared for the next stage. Disadvantaged pupils, including those with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language, are identified promptly and supported effectively. The early years provision is a notable strength, with purposeful activities, a strong focus on communication and language, and high levels of engagement. Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary, and personal development is extensive, including a wide range of extra-curricular activities and opportunities to take on responsibilities. Staff provide strong pastoral, attendance and safeguarding support for pupils and families, and the school benefits from effective trust collaboration and oversight. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains part of the DRB Ignite Multi Academy Trust. The report identifies no significant weaknesses or areas for improvement, and safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Strengths

• Strong phonics and early reading provision with effective catch-up support
• Clear, well-sequenced curriculum with expert subject knowledge and high-quality resources
• High ambition and effective support for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND
• High-quality early years provision that prioritises communication, language and vocabulary
• Exceptional personal development and a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities
• Strong pastoral, attendance and safeguarding support for pupils and families
• Exemplary pupil behaviour and positive relationships across the school
• Effective collaboration with and robust oversight from the DRB Ignite Multi Academy Trust

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 Princethorpe Infant School attended 94.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.3% 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 Princethorpe Infant 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 Princethorpe Infant School had 29.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.1% 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, 19.5% of pupils at Princethorpe Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.6% 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 Princethorpe Infant School received £7,272 and spent £8,182 for each of its 162 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £112,000 (£694 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of Drb Ignite Multi Academy Trust, income was £8,088 and spending £7,905 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 Birmingham · Birmingham local authority: places and applications

Princethorpe Infant School is part of Drb Ignite Multi Academy Trust, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• Princethorpe Junior School Birmingham
• Jervoise School Birmingham
• Paganel Primary School Birmingham
• Wychall Primary School Birmingham
• Woodthorpe Junior and Infant School Birmingham
• The Oaks Primary School Birmingham
• Yorkmead Junior and Infant School Birmingham
• Hob Green Primary School Stourbridge
• Beechwood Church of England Primary School Dudley
• Hawbush Primary School Brierley Hill

What is Princethorpe Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Princethorpe Infant School is Outstanding, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Princethorpe Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Princethorpe Infant School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Princethorpe Infant School have?

Princethorpe Infant School has 154 pupils on roll.

What age range does Princethorpe Infant School cover?

Princethorpe Infant School for pupils aged 3 to 7.

Where is Princethorpe Infant School?

Princethorpe Infant School is at Princethorpe Road, Weoley Castle, Birmingham, West Midlands, B29 5QB.