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Primary school · Lydney

Pillowell Community Primary School

Ages 4 to 11 · 73 pupils (35 boys, 38 girls)

Getting a Reception place in 2026

1 place left

Last year, Pillowell Community Primary School did not fill its Reception places: 1 of 12 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in.

12places

11families put it first

27listed it at all

Year by year since 2019

2019Not full: everyone who applied got in
20200.22 mi
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
20251.51 mi
2026Not full: everyone who applied got in

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

12 Reception places for September 2026; 11 offered on national offer day.

11 families put it first; 27 listed it as any preference.

1 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.
  • The distance that got a place has moved between 0.22 and 1.51 miles since 2019.

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.

The council runs admissions for this school. If more families apply than there are places, places go in this order:

  1. Children in care, or who were in care
  2. Brothers and sisters of children already at the school (or its linked junior school, if it has one)
  3. Everyone else, nearest first, measured in a straight line from home to school

Gloucestershire County Council admission arrangements, September 2027. Children whose EHC plan names the school are given a place first.

Gloucestershire admission rules for September 2027

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 01594562244 to arrange a visit. See every open day we know about.

SATs results.

−13

13 fewer 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 (11% here). About 67% would be expected.

Only 9 pupils in Year 6, so results move a lot from year to year.

Met the expected level, each year

202371%
202443%
202544%

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 148th of 213 · Typical 61%54%
SATs compared with similar schoolsExtra children in every 100 meeting the level, against schools in England with similar pupils · joint 157th of 202 · Typical −3−13
SATs: met the expected level in 2025Reading, writing and maths, one year · joint 175th of 209 · Typical 64%44%
Reading, 2025joint 122nd of 209 · Typical 80%78%
Writing, 2025joint 144th of 209 · Typical 74%67%
Maths, 2025joint 150th of 209 · Typical 77%67%
Teachers still there a year laterjoint 191st of 200 · Typical 87%60%

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. This school has a small Year 6, so its SATs positions move a lot from year to year.

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

Ofsted.

Ofsted

Expected standard

Report card, 2026

Report card (14 July 2026), each area rated on a five-step scale.

InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Early yearsExpected standard
Safeguarding standardsMet
Inspection history (7 reports)
  • 14 July 2026School inspection: report card (see above) · report
  • 10 October 2023School inspection: Requires improvement · report
  • 19 April 2018Short inspection · report
  • 02 December 2014Full inspection · report
  • 19 May 2011Full inspection · report
  • 05 June 2008Full inspection · report
  • 17 May 2004Full 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 school89%
My child feels safe at this school91%
The school makes sure pupils behave well84%
The school communicates well with me69%
Would recommend the school to another parent82%

Share of parents who agreed, from 45 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 size▼ Lower than typical (26)22
How full the school is72 pupils for 84 places, May 202586%
Can get free school mealsA sign of how many families have lower incomesAbout typical (16%)16%
Get extra help with special needsSEN support, without a formal plan▲ Higher than typical (18%)25%
Have an EHC planA legal plan for special needs▲ Higher than typical (4.3%)9.6%
Speak another language at home▼ Lower than typical (5.1%)0.0%

Attendance and behaviour

Lessons missedFor any reason▲ Higher than typical (4.7%)5.2%
Missing 1 day in 10 or moreCalled “persistently absent”About typical (11%)8%
Suspensions per 100 pupils▲ Higher than typical (1.6)8.1

Teachers and money

Pupils per teacherNot the same as class size▲ Higher than typical (19.7)21.4
Teachers still there a year later▼ Lower than typical (87%)60%

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 Pillowell Community Primary School?

Last year, Pillowell Community Primary School did not fill its Reception places: 1 of 12 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in. Year by year since 2019: 2019: not full: everyone who applied got in; 2020: 0.22 miles; 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: 1.51 miles; 2026: not full: everyone who applied got in. 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 Pillowell Community Primary School?

For September 2026 Reception entry, 11 families put Pillowell Community Primary School as their first choice and 27 listed it as one of their choices, for 12 places. (Gloucestershire County Council)

What are Pillowell Community Primary School's SATs results?

Over the three years 2023 to 2025, 54% of Year 6 children at Pillowell Community Primary School met the expected level in reading, writing and maths. (Department for Education, key stage 2 results)

What did Ofsted say about Pillowell Community Primary School?

Inspected under Ofsted's new report cards (14 July 2026): 0 of 8 areas strong or better, none needing attention.

How do I apply for a place at Pillowell Community 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 Road, Pillowell, Lydney, GL15 4QT

Interim Exec Headteacher: Mrs Kirsty Evans

01594 562244 · School website

Official school record · Gloucestershire school admissions

Nearby primary schools

All primary schools in Forest of Dean ›

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