Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School, Kingswinford

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics and make the necessary progress over time."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance is high."

Early years - Expected standard. "From the moment children arrive in early years, staff build effective partnerships with parents and carers so that together they can help children settle in quickly."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a school where everyone feels included."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "School leaders work closely with the trust."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils are friendly and welcoming."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The curriculum is not delivered consistently well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is implemented consistently well across the school. They should support teachers to plan activities that help pupils remember the most important knowledge so that all pupils make strong progress through the curriculum. • Leaders should make sure that teaching provides appropriate ambition for pupils who have already secured the intended learning. They should support teachers to plan learning that enables these pupils, including children in the early years, to deepen their learning. • Leaders, with support from the trust, should ensure that teachers with subject responsibilities have a clear and accurate understanding of how well pupils are learning in their subjects so that they can support staff to improve consistency in teaching, curriculum implementation and pupils' learning".

From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Lindsay Mason and I am immensely proud to be the head teacher of Church of the Ascension Primary School. On behalf of our school community, I offer a warm welcome to our school. Relationships are at the heart of all that we do."

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 3 November 2026, an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026 and an open day on Friday 13 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 75% in Dudley and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (80% in reading, 76% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School as their first choice and 101 named it as one of their preferences, for 39 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School are Dawley Brook Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 69% reading, 59% maths); Maidensbridge Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 97% reading, 83% maths); St Mary's CofE Primary School (0.4 miles, 70% reading, 59% maths); and Blanford Mere Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 89% reading, 82% maths).

Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School is one of 20 schools run by Elements Diocesan Learning Trust, an academy trust.

108 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School (as of April 2026): 95% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 77% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (77%).

5.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 35 pupils (11.6%) received SEN support and 6 (2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Lye (West Midlands) Rail Station, about 4 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is New Street (adjacent), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 62 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Dudley (212).

In 2024/25, Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Church of the Ascension CofE Primary School are Kingswinford Academy (0.5 miles) and Summerhill School (0.7 miles).