Watermoor Church of England Primary School

Watermoor Church of England Primary School is performing well across all judged areas in its first section 5 inspection. It joined the Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust in 2022, and inspectors found that the school and trust have made significant improvements since the predecessor school was judged inadequate. The curriculum has been redesigned to be ambitious and clearly sequenced, reading and phonics are taught systematically from the early years, pupils with SEND are supported effectively, and behaviour is calm and positive. Safeguarding is effective, and staff feel valued and well supported by leaders and the trust. The main area for improvement is assessment. In some subjects, teachers do not check pupils’ understanding consistently well, so misconceptions and gaps in knowledge are not always addressed promptly. This can limit how securely some pupils develop their understanding across the curriculum. Published outcomes for 2024 were low because the improvements were not quick enough for previous cohorts to catch up, although current pupils are progressing well through the improved curriculum and producing work of a high standard. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain, and the school’s work to promote personal development and positive behaviour is a notable strength.

Strengths

• Curriculum has been redesigned with clear sequencing, key vocabulary and national curriculum breadth.
• Reading and phonics are taught systematically from Nursery and Reception, with frequent checks and matched books.
• Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported effectively through regularly reviewed plans.
• Behaviour is calm, and pupils concentrate well and conduct themselves positively around school.
• Pupils enjoy learning and achieve well from the moment they join the school.
• Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain through values, assemblies and democracy opportunities.
• Pupils value leadership roles such as house captains, play leaders and librarians.
• Staff feel valued, supported with well-being and workload, and proud to work at the school.
• Trustees and governors oversee the school’s progress effectively, with close trust support.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment is not used consistently well in some subjects, leaving gaps in pupils’ knowledge.
• Published 2024 outcomes were low because improvements came too late for previous cohorts to catch up.

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 Watermoor Church of England Primary School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.1% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Watermoor 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 Watermoor Church of England Primary School had 20.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.8% 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, 18.0% of pupils at Watermoor Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.4% 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 Watermoor Church of England Primary School received £6,878 and spent £7,271 for each of its 191 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £122,000 (£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

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

• North Cerney Church of England Primary Academy Cirencester
• Bibury Church of England Primary School Cirencester
• Minchinhampton Primary Academy Stroud
• St Mary's Church of England Primary School Tetbury
• St Lawrence Church of England Primary School Lechlade
• Amberley Parochial School Stroud
• Whiteshill Primary School Stroud
• St Matthew's Church of England Primary School Stroud
• St James' Church of England Primary School Cheltenham
• Christ Church CofE Primary School Cheltenham

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

The latest Ofsted rating for Watermoor Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

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

Watermoor Church of England Primary School was last inspected in June 2025.

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

Watermoor Church of England Primary School has 183 pupils on roll.

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

Watermoor Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Watermoor Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 45% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Watermoor Church of England Primary School?

Watermoor Church of England Primary School is at Kingshill Lane, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1SY.