Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School, Cheltenham

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "The school's warm, welcoming ethos encourages pupils to attend regularly."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development curriculum supports pupils effectively, including those who are disadvantaged or pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Published outcomes at the end of Year 6 in reading, writing and mathematics sit in line with national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is well sequenced from early years to Year 6."

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years provision offers a stimulating environment where children develop skills for lifelong learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Bourton is an inclusive and caring school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including governors, demonstrate high ambition for the school and have high expectations of all."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders need to ensure that teaching is consistently precise so that pupils can develop secure and effective strategies for their learning"; "Leaders need to ensure that agreed approaches to supporting pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are applied consistently so that all pupils benefit from them"; "Leaders and governors should strengthen their skills in identifying what needs to improve and evaluate the impact of their work clearly".

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils at Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 75% in Gloucestershire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (69% in reading, 69% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 35 families put Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 35 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School are Cold Aston Church of England Primary School (2.5 miles, 100% reading, 100% maths); Swell Church of England Primary School (2.8 miles, 88% reading, 63% maths); The Rissington School (3.1 miles, Good, 87% reading, 87% maths); and Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School (3.5 miles, Good, 61% reading, 83% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School.

Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

64 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School (as of April 2026): 84% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 56% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (55%).

13.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 12% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 60 pupils (17.6%) received SEN support and 9 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (outside), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.