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Primary school · Cheltenham

Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School

Ages 2 to 11 · 341 pupils (173 boys, 168 girls)

Getting a Reception place in 2026

9 places left

Last year, Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School did not fill its Reception places: 9 of 45 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in.

45places

36families put it first

51listed it at all

Year by year since 2021

2021Not full: everyone who applied got in
2022Not full: everyone who applied got in
2023Not full: everyone who applied got in
2024Not full: everyone who applied got in
2025Not full: everyone who applied got in
2026Not full: everyone who applied got in
Check how far you live
More about how places were given

45 Reception places for September 2026; 36 offered on national offer day.

36 families put it first; 51 listed it as any preference.

9 spare places after offers in 2026.

Distances change every year. Looked-after children, siblings, catchment and faith can come before distance. Check the admissions policy before you apply.

Places offered, September 2026 Reception entry, Gloucestershire County Council. Earlier years: allocation-day tables, Gloucestershire County Council. What this means

Closing date for Reception and junior applications: Midnight, 15 January 2027. Key dates

In short.

Worth knowing

  • It had spare places after offer day last year.

Typical is the middle school when all 243 Gloucestershire primaries are lined up, half above and half below. Tap a box for the detail.

How places are given.

This school sets its own admission rules. If more families apply than there are places, it uses the order in its policy, which can include brothers and sisters, children of staff, faith or a catchment area.

Read the school's admission rules for September 2027 (PDF)

Free school transport. If this is your nearest suitable school and the walking route is more than 2 miles (children under 8) or 3 miles (8 and over), the council usually provides free transport. Families on lower incomes can get help over shorter distances. School transport

Visit the school.

We haven't found published open day dates for this school. Most primary schools are happy to show families round between November and January: check the school's website or call 01451820458 to arrange a visit. See every open day we know about.

SATs results.

Same

About the same as schools in England with similar pupils. Similar pupils means a similar share from lower-income families (32% here). About 62% would be expected.

Met the expected level, each year

202376%
202450%
202561%

Each year is a different group of pupils.

Where it ranks in Gloucestershire
SATs: met the expected levelReading, writing and maths, 2023 to 2025 · joint 98th of 213 · Typical 61%62%
SATs compared with similar schoolsExtra children in every 100 meeting the level, against schools in England with similar pupils · joint 84th of 202 · Typical −3+0
SATs: met the expected level in 2025Reading, writing and maths, one year · joint 113th of 209 · Typical 64%61%
Reading, 2025joint 146th of 209 · Typical 80%74%
Writing, 2025joint 91st of 209 · Typical 74%76%
Maths, 2025joint 147th of 209 · Typical 77%68%
Teachers still there a year laterjoint 53rd of 200 · Typical 87%93%

Positions are among Gloucestershire state primary and junior schools with a published figure. 1st means the highest results. Typical is the school in the middle when they are lined up from highest to lowest. Jargon buster.

Key stage 2 results 2024/25 and 3-year average 2023 to 2025 (revised).

Ofsted.

Ofsted

Strong in 2 of 7

Report card, 2026

Report card (3 February 2026), each area rated on a five-step scale.

InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Early yearsExpected standard
Safeguarding standardsMet

Latest short inspection (14 October 2021): School remains Good.

Inspection history (3 reports)
  • 03 February 2026School inspection: report card (see above) · report
  • 13 October 2021School inspection · report
  • 17 May 2016Short inspection · report

Grades from different years were given under different rules, so they are not directly comparable. Reports from before a school became an academy are listed under its old school on the Ofsted website.

Read the reports on the Ofsted website

What parents told Ofsted.

My child is happy at this school84%
My child feels safe at this school92%
The school makes sure pupils behave well78%
The school communicates well with me55%
Would recommend the school to another parent84%

Share of parents who agreed, from 64 parents who filled in Ofsted's Parent View survey between November 2025 and September 2026. Parents choose whether to take part, so this may not reflect every family.

Day to day.

Pupils

Average class sizeAbout typical (26)26
How full the school is283 pupils for 315 places, May 202590%
Can get free school mealsA sign of how many families have lower incomesAbout typical (16%)14%
Get extra help with special needsSEN support, without a formal planAbout typical (18%)18%
Have an EHC planA legal plan for special needs▼ Lower than typical (4.3%)2.6%
Speak another language at home▲ Higher than typical (5.1%)12%

Attendance and behaviour

Lessons missedFor any reason▲ Higher than typical (4.7%)5.5%
Missing 1 day in 10 or moreCalled “persistently absent”About typical (11%)11%
Suspensions per 100 pupils▼ Lower than typical (1.6)1.1

Teachers and money

Pupils per teacherNot the same as class size▲ Higher than typical (19.7)25.4
Teachers still there a year later▲ Higher than typical (87%)93%
Spending per pupilSmall schools usually cost more per child▲ Higher than typical (£6,992)£7,460

Behaviour policies differ between schools, so compare suspensions with care. Pupils and staff: school census and workforce census, Department for Education.

Questions parents ask.

How close do you need to live to get a place at Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School?

Last year, Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School did not fill its Reception places: 9 of 45 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in. Year by year since 2021: 2021: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2022: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2023: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2024: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2025: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2026: not full: everyone who applied got in. Distances change every year, and children in priority groups (such as looked-after children and brothers or sisters of current pupils) can get places before distance is used.

How many families applied to Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School?

For September 2026 Reception entry, 36 families put Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School as their first choice and 51 listed it as one of their choices, for 45 places. (Gloucestershire County Council)

What are Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School's SATs results?

Over the three years 2023 to 2025, 62% of Year 6 children at Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School met the expected level in reading, writing and maths. (Department for Education, key stage 2 results)

What did Ofsted say about Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School?

Inspected under Ofsted's new report cards (3 February 2026): 2 of 8 areas strong or better, none needing attention.

How do I apply for a place at Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School?

You apply to your home council, not to the school. If you live in Gloucestershire, that is Gloucestershire County Council. For September 2027 entry, apply by midnight, 15 January 2027. Offers are sent on 16 April 2027.

Contact and nearby.

School Hill, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham, GL54 2AW

Headteacher: Co Headteacher Lindsay Connor

Run by an academy trust: Bourton-on-the-Water Primary Academy

01451 820458 · School website

Official school record · Gloucestershire school admissions

Nearby primary schools

All primary schools in Cotswold ›

Spotted something wrong on this page? Tell us

This is a guide, not an admissions decision. Figures come from the Department for Education, Ofsted and Gloucestershire County Council and were last updated 7 November 2026. Always check the school's admissions policy and the council's admissions pages before applying. How admissions work