Elmley Castle CofE First School, Pershore

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades Elmley Castle CofE First School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance and behaviour are significant strengths of the school, underpinned by leaders' clear expectations and effective systems."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have made early years development a key priority."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leadership and governance remain effective despite significant staffing changes since the previous inspection."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a well-structured and coherent personal development programme that makes a significant contribution to pupils' wider growth."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Work in pupils' books indicates inconsistent achievement across subjects and year groups."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The quality of curriculum implementation is inconsistent."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders are committed to inclusion, but their actions are not yet consistently effective."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that leadership of special educational needs and/or disabilities, the systems in place and support provided are effective in having a positive impact on pupils' learning and development"; "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is implemented consistently across the school so that pupils achieve as well as they should across all subjects"; "Leaders should ensure that misconceptions and errors in pupils' work are addressed swiftly and that regular checks are made to identify gaps in learning and inform future planning"; "Leaders should support staff to raise pupils' achievement in writing by strengthening the teaching of grammar, punctuation, spelling and handwriting so that it is delivered consistently across all year groups".

For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Elmley Castle CofE First School as their first choice and 32 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 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 Elmley Castle CofE First School are Ashton-under-Hill First School (2.3 miles, Good); Cropthorne-with-Charlton CofE First School (2.4 miles, Good); St Andrew's CofE School and Nursery (2.9 miles, Good); and Overbury CofE First School (3 miles, Good).

3.8% 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.

In 2026, 12 pupils (15.2%) received SEN support and 5 (6.3%) 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 specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

Elmley Castle CofE First School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Elmley Castle CofE First School.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Netherton Lane Village Hall (opposite), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Worcestershire (78).

In 2024/25, Elmley Castle CofE First School issued 1 suspension, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.