Coalway Community Infant School has closed (Tuesday 31 March 2026).
It merged with another school. The school at this address is now Coalway Primary School.
Coalway Community Infant School, Coleford
Coalway Community Infant School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 7 in Coleford. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2024. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. It was 54% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Gloucestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
Coalway Community Infant School in detail
Getting a place at Coalway Community Infant School
For September 2026 entry, 31 families put Coalway Community Infant School as their first choice and 61 named it as one of their preferences, for 40 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Coalway Community Infant School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Coalway Community Infant School are Coalway Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 84% reading, 81% maths); St John's C of E Academy (1 mile, Good, 58% reading, 75% maths); Ellwood Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 61% reading, 67% maths); and Berry Hill Primary School (1.6 miles, Requires improvement, 73% reading, 70% maths).
Coalway Primary SchoolSt John's C of E AcademyEllwood Primary SchoolBerry Hill Primary School
Who goes there
15.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (95%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 22 pupils (22.7%) received SEN support and 8 (8.2%) 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.
Staffing
Coalway Community Infant School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Dean Forest Railway, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Junior School (outside), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Coalway Community Infant School issued 1 suspension, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school has made real improvements to how it teaches reading, with staff now using consistent methods that help children progress. Behaviour expectations are clear and the school creates a calm, orderly environment where children are keen to learn. The school's leaders are actively working to strengthen the curriculum and are open to support and feedback.
Key Strengths
- Improvements in reading and phonics teaching with greater consistency across the school
- Behaviour systems are working well - the school is calm and orderly with pupils showing positive attitudes to learning
- Early years curriculum has been strengthened with focus on language development
- School leaders are receptive to external advice and working closely with local authority support
Areas for Improvement
- Writing development needs further focus across the curriculum
- Assessment systems for checking pupils' knowledge are not yet in place across all subjects
- Teachers need more confidence using assessment information to meet all pupils' needs
- Wider curriculum sequencing and implementation need improvement
- Clarity needed on improvement actions and timescales so impact can be properly measured
Coalway Community Infant School has undergone significant leadership changes and is making progress to improve, though some aspects still need further development. The school has prioritised reading and phonics improvements and strengthened its governing board.
At a Glance
15.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
25.0
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Coalway Community Infant School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Coalway Community Infant School.
- Coalway Kids ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Term dates
Coalway Community Infant School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Gloucestershire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Coalway Community Infant School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Coalway Community Infant School is in Gloucestershire; for families living there:
Apply to Gloucestershire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Coalway Community Infant School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
54%
Available places
98 pupils
180 places
82 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Coleford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Coleford
Across Gloucestershire council
Places available
7,250
Applications
6,016
Got 1st preference
91.6%
Got preferred school
98.1%
All primary applications across Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
22
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
30.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
97
Total Pupils
53
Boys
44
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
10.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,379
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,548
Per pupil
£725k
Total funding
£21k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
2.9%
Persistent absence
70
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Coalway Community Infant School
What is Coalway Community Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Coalway Community Infant School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2024, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Coalway Community Infant School?
No fixed boundary. When Coalway Community Infant School is oversubscribed, Gloucestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Coalway Community Infant School?
Coalway Community Infant School was not full in 2025: it ran at 54% of its 180 places.
How big are the classes at Coalway Community Infant School?
Classes at Coalway Community Infant School average 25 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Coalway Community Infant School?
Coalway Community Infant School has around 97 pupils on roll. 16% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Coalway Community Infant School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Coalway Community Infant School in 2024/25. 2.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Coalway Community Infant School?
Apply through Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Coalway Community Infant School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Coalway Community Infant School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Coalway Kids Club (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Coalway Community Infant School's term dates?
Coalway Community Infant School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Gloucestershire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027).
Where is Coalway Community Infant School?
Coalway Community Infant School is at Coalway Road, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 7HL.
Source: Gloucestershire term dates