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Primary school · Coleford

St John's C of E Academy

Ages 4 to 11 · 155 pupils (81 boys, 74 girls) · Church of England

Getting a Reception place in 2026

15 places left

Last year, St John's C of E Academy did not fill its Reception places: 15 of 30 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in.

30places

8families put it first

27listed it at all

Year by year since 2020

2020Not full: everyone who applied got in
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

30 Reception places for September 2026; 15 offered on national offer day.

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

15 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 01594832046 to arrange a visit. See every open day we know about.

SATs results.

−6

6 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 (46% here). About 59% would be expected.

Met the expected level, each year

202342%
202457%
202554%

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 156th of 213 · Typical 61%52%
SATs compared with similar schoolsExtra children in every 100 meeting the level, against schools in England with similar pupils · 132nd of 202 · Typical −3−6
SATs: met the expected level in 2025Reading, writing and maths, one year · 150th of 209 · Typical 64%54%
Reading, 2025190th of 209 · Typical 80%58%
Writing, 2025joint 67th of 209 · Typical 74%79%
Maths, 2025joint 113th of 209 · Typical 77%75%
Teachers still there a year laterjoint 93rd of 200 · Typical 87%88%

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 1 of 7

Report card, 2026

Report card (19 May 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 yearsStrong standard
Safeguarding standardsMet
Inspection history (3 reports)
  • 19 May 2026School inspection: report card (see above) · report
  • 19 January 2022School inspection: Good · report
  • 17 November 2020Monitoring visit · 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 school88%
My child feels safe at this school100%
The school makes sure pupils behave well83%
The school communicates well with me71%
Would recommend the school to another parent96%

Share of parents who agreed, from 24 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 is155 pupils for 210 places, May 202574%
Can get free school mealsA sign of how many families have lower incomes▲ Higher than typical (16%)36%
Get extra help with special needsSEN support, without a formal plan▲ Higher than typical (18%)22%
Have an EHC planA legal plan for special needs▼ Lower than typical (4.3%)3.2%
Speak another language at home▲ Higher than typical (5.1%)7.1%

Attendance and behaviour

Lessons missedFor any reasonAbout typical (4.7%)4.8%
Missing 1 day in 10 or moreCalled “persistently absent”About typical (11%)9%
Suspensions per 100 pupils▲ Higher than typical (1.6)2.6

Teachers and money

Pupils per teacherNot the same as class size▼ Lower than typical (19.7)18.2
Teachers still there a year laterAbout typical (87%)88%
Spending per pupilSmall schools usually cost more per childAbout typical (£6,992)£7,260

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 St John's C of E Academy?

Last year, St John's C of E Academy did not fill its Reception places: 15 of 30 were still free after offer day, so distance did not decide who got in. Year by year since 2020: 2020: not full: everyone who applied got in; 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 St John's C of E Academy?

For September 2026 Reception entry, 8 families put St John's C of E Academy as their first choice and 27 listed it as one of their choices, for 30 places. (Gloucestershire County Council)

What are St John's C of E Academy's SATs results?

Over the three years 2023 to 2025, 52% of Year 6 children at St John's C of E Academy met the expected level in reading, writing and maths. (Department for Education, key stage 2 results)

What did Ofsted say about St John's C of E Academy?

Inspected under Ofsted's new report cards (19 May 2026): 1 of 8 areas strong or better, none needing attention.

How do I apply for a place at St John's C of E 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.

Bowens Hill Road, Coleford, GL16 8DU

Head teacher: Mrs Jennifer Thomas

Run by an academy trust: The Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust

01594 832046 · 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