Much Marcle CofE Primary School

Much Marcle CofE Primary School is performing strongly across all areas inspected. Although it converted to academy status relatively recently and therefore has no published outcomes for the new school, pupils achieve well from their starting points, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils. Early reading and phonics are particular strengths, and pupils' books show clear progress, especially in English. Attendance is above the national average, behaviour is excellent, and pupils feel a strong sense of community and belonging. The curriculum is broad, balanced and taught consistently well in mixed-age classes, with strong early years provision and highly effective inclusion. Leaders know the school well, while governors and the Diocese of Hereford Multi Academy Trust provide appropriate support and challenge. Personal development and wellbeing are carefully designed around the school's rural context. Safeguarding standards are met. The main development point is to embed recent improvements to handwriting teaching so that pupils' handwriting becomes consistent across the whole curriculum. No other significant weaknesses were identified.

Strengths

• All pupils achieve well from their starting points, including pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils.
• Early years and key stage 1 reading and phonics provision is highly effective.
• Pupils make clear progress, especially in English, and produce impressive writing.
• Attendance is above national average, supported by sensitive and effective work with families.
• Pupils behave impeccably, and bullying is rare and dealt with swiftly.
• The broad and balanced curriculum is taught consistently well in mixed-age classes.
• Teachers use expert knowledge, regular checking, retrieval and practice to build deep understanding.
• Early years provision gives children a flying start and closely matches their needs.
• The school has a highly inclusive culture where all pupils feel they belong and thrive.
• Leaders, governors and the multi-academy trust know the school well and provide effective support and challenge.
• Personal development prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain and reflects the local rural community.
• A wide range of clubs, visits and leadership opportunities enriches pupils' experience.
• Safeguarding standards are met and there is an open culture of safeguarding.
• Strong relationships and a sense of community help pupils and staff flourish.

Areas for Improvement

• Recent improvements to handwriting teaching are not yet consistently embedded across the curriculum.

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 2025–26 Much Marcle CofE Primary School had 16.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7).

Pupils per teacher

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, 27.8% of pupils at Much Marcle CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.3% 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.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ledbury · Herefordshire, County of local authority: places and applications

Much Marcle CofE Primary School is part of Diocese of Hereford Multi Academy Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Eastnor Parochial Primary School Ledbury
• Burley Gate CofE Primary School Hereford
• Goodrich CofE Primary School Ross-On-Wye
• St Thomas Cantilupe CofE Academy Hereford
• The Hereford Church of England Academy Hereford
• St Michael's CofE Primary School Hereford
• Tenbury CofE Primary School Tenbury Wells
• Burford CofE Primary School Tenbury Wells
• Pembridge CofE Primary School Leominster
• Ludlow Primary School Ludlow

What is Much Marcle CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Much Marcle CofE Primary School is Strong standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Much Marcle CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Much Marcle CofE Primary School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Much Marcle CofE Primary School have?

Much Marcle CofE Primary School has 90 pupils on roll.

What age range does Much Marcle CofE Primary School cover?

Much Marcle CofE Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

Where is Much Marcle CofE Primary School?

Much Marcle CofE Primary School is at Much Marcle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 2LY.