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Primary school · Gloucester

Highnam CofE Primary Academy

Ages 4 to 11 · 206 pupils (116 boys, 90 girls) · Church of England

Getting a Reception place in 2026

0.27 miles

Last year, children living within 0.27 miles of Highnam CofE Primary Academy were offered a Reception place on distance.

30places, all filled

40families put it first

63listed it at all

Year by year since 2019

20193.41 mi
20202.46 mi
20210.39 mi
20220.34 mi
2023Not full: everyone who applied got in
20241.57 mi
2025Not full: everyone who applied got in
20260.27 mi

It moves a lot from year to year, so don't rely on one year alone.

The 2019 and 2020 tables do not say which rule the last place went on, so a full school is shown by its furthest distance.

Check how far you live
More about how places were given

30 Reception places for September 2026; 30 offered on national offer day.

40 families put it first; 63 listed it as any preference.

The furthest distance offered a place on distance was 0.27 miles.

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

Last distance 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

  • The distance that got a place has moved between 0.27 and 3.41 miles since 2019.
  • SATs results are in the top 10% of Gloucestershire primaries.

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 01452525872 to arrange a visit. See every open day we know about.

SATs results.

+14

14 more children in every 100 meet the expected level than at schools in England with similar pupils. Similar pupils means a similar share from lower-income families (16% here). About 66% would be expected.

Met the expected level, each year

202390%
202481%
202568%

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 11th of 213 · Typical 61%79%
SATs compared with similar schoolsExtra children in every 100 meeting the level, against schools in England with similar pupils · joint 13th of 202 · Typical −3+14
SATs: met the expected level in 2025Reading, writing and maths, one year · joint 83rd of 209 · Typical 64%68%
Reading, 2025joint 67th of 209 · Typical 80%84%
Writing, 2025joint 54th of 209 · Typical 74%81%
Maths, 2025joint 40th of 209 · Typical 77%87%
Teachers still there a year later79th of 200 · Typical 87%90%

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

Good

Full inspection, 2023

In Ofsted's words, from its school inspection report, March 2023:
“‘An amazing school’ is a view shared by many parents, and shows what it is like to be a pupil at Highnam. Pupils flourish at this school and are proud to be part of it. The school vision, ‘Inspiring Everyone to Shine’, is lived out through the exceptional personal development of pupils. […]”

Read the full report (PDF) · Ofsted, Open Government Licence.

Read the reports on the Ofsted website

What parents told Ofsted.

Not enough parents filled in Ofsted's Parent View survey for this school to publish results. Ofsted only publishes a school's results once 10 or more parents have answered (November 2025 to September 2026).

See this school on Ofsted Parent View, or add your own views if your child goes there.

Day to day.

Pupils

Average class size▲ Higher than typical (26)29
How full the school is216 pupils for 210 places, May 2025103%
Can get free school mealsA sign of how many families have lower incomes▼ Lower than typical (16%)8.7%
Get extra help with special needsSEN support, without a formal plan▼ Lower than typical (18%)12%
Have an EHC planA legal plan for special needs▲ Higher than typical (4.3%)4.9%
Speak another language at home▼ Lower than typical (5.1%)1.9%

Attendance and behaviour

Lessons missedFor any reasonAbout typical (4.7%)4.5%
Missing 1 day in 10 or moreCalled “persistently absent”About typical (11%)9%
Suspensions per 100 pupils▲ Higher than typical (1.6)9.7

Teachers and money

Pupils per teacherNot the same as class sizeAbout typical (19.7)19.0
Teachers still there a year laterAbout typical (87%)90%
Spending per pupilSmall schools usually cost more per child▼ Lower than typical (£6,992)£6,005

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 Highnam CofE Primary Academy?

Last year, children living within 0.27 miles of Highnam CofE Primary Academy were offered a Reception place on distance. Year by year since 2019: 2019: 3.41 miles; 2020: 2.46 miles; 2021: 0.39 miles; 2022: 0.34 miles; 2023: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2024: 1.57 miles; 2025: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2026: 0.27 miles. It moves a lot from year to year, so don't rely on one year alone. 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 Highnam CofE Primary Academy?

For September 2026 Reception entry, 40 families put Highnam CofE Primary Academy as their first choice and 63 listed it as one of their choices, for 30 places. (Gloucestershire County Council)

What are Highnam CofE Primary Academy's SATs results?

Over the three years 2023 to 2025, 79% of Year 6 children at Highnam CofE Primary Academy met the expected level in reading, writing and maths. (Department for Education, key stage 2 results)

What did Ofsted say about Highnam CofE Primary Academy?

Rated Good by Ofsted at its last full inspection (13 March 2023).

How do I apply for a place at Highnam CofE Primary Academy?

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.

Wetherleigh Drive, Highnam, Gloucester, GL2 8LW

Headteacher: Miss Elizabeth Coldrick

Run by an academy trust: Primary Quest Multi-Academy Trust

01452 525872 · School website

Official school record · Gloucestershire school admissions

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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