Bibury Church of England Primary School

Bibury Church of England Primary School has been evaluated as good overall, demonstrating notable strengths in behavior, attitudes, and personal development, which are both outstanding. The school serves as a nurturing and inclusive environment where students feel valued and supported. It integrates a broad and ambitious curriculum that effectively promotes a love of learning among its pupils, although some assessment practices may not fully challenge every student as needed. This was the first routine inspection since the school joined the Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust and reflects the impact of their strong leadership and community-oriented approach.

Strengths

• Nurturing and inclusive school environment
• Outstanding behavior and attitudes of pupils
• Strong emphasis on personal development
• Broad and well-sequenced curriculum
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs
• High levels of staff morale and community spirit
• Pupils develop a love of reading from an early age

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment practices occasionally fail to provide sufficient challenge to all pupils

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 Bibury Church of England Primary School attended 89.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 23.1% 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 Bibury 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 Bibury Church of England Primary School had 5.3 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, 20.0% of pupils at Bibury Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 25.0% 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 Bibury Church of England Primary School received £20,251 and spent £16,290 for each of its 27 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £17,000 (£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

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

• Watermoor Church of England Primary School Cirencester
• North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy Cirencester
• St Lawrence Church of England Primary School Lechlade
• St James' Church of England Primary School Cheltenham
• Winchcombe Abbey Church of England Primary School Cheltenham
• Christ Church CofE Primary School Cheltenham
• Minchinhampton Primary Academy Stroud
• St Mary's Church of England Primary School Tetbury
• Amberley Parochial School Stroud
• St David's Church of England Primary School Moreton-In-Marsh

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

The latest Ofsted rating for Bibury Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

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

Bibury Church of England Primary School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Bibury Church of England Primary School have?

Bibury Church of England Primary School has 20 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bibury Church of England Primary School cover?

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

Where is Bibury Church of England Primary School?

Bibury Church of England Primary School is at Church Road, Bibury, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5NR.