Dove CofE Academy

Dove C of E Academy is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating across all key areas. The school has successfully fostered a nurturing learning environment where pupils are enthusiastic and engaged. The recent leadership change has brought stability and a clear direction, contributing to a positive educational experience. Staff feel well-supported and are dedicated to helping students thrive. Nevertheless, the school is still refining some aspects of its curriculum and the effectiveness of subject leadership, which are essential for continuous improvement.

Strengths

• Strong teaching of phonics and reading.
• Positive and enthusiastic behavior among pupils.
• Clear sequence and ambition in the curriculum.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND.
• Strong emphasis on staff development and support.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subject leaders lack a full understanding of pupil learning.
• Pupils have a limited understanding of fundamental British values.

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 Dove CofE Academy attended 95.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.6% 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, 2.1% of pupils at Dove CofE 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 Dove CofE Academy had 23.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 37.1% 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 Dove CofE Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.2% 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 Dove CofE Academy received £7,834 and spent £8,010 for each of its 96 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £121,000 (£1,265 per pupil).

Across all 21 schools of Staffordshire University Academies Trust, income was £7,351 and spending £7,265 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 Uttoxeter · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

Dove CofE Academy is part of Staffordshire University Academies Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• All Saints CofE Academy Denstone Uttoxeter
• St Peter's CofE Academy Alton Stoke-On-Trent
• Tynsel Parkes CofE Primary Academy Uttoxeter
• St Augustine's CofE Academy Ashbourne
• St Edward's CofE Academy Cheddleton Leek
• St Luke's CofE Academy Endon Stoke-On-Trent
• John Wheeldon Primary Academy Stafford
• Horton St Michael's CofE First School Leek
• All Saints CofE Primary School, Bednall Stafford
• Westlands Primary School Newcastle-Under-Lyme

What is Dove CofE Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Dove CofE Academy is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Dove CofE Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Dove CofE Academy was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Dove CofE Academy have?

Dove CofE Academy has 113 pupils on roll.

What age range does Dove CofE Academy cover?

Dove CofE Academy for pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is Dove CofE Academy?

Dove CofE Academy is at Ashbourne Road, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 5PB.