Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School, Melksham
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Melksham, part of The White Horse Federation. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 8 schools in Melksham with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- 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 Wiltshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School in detail
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £3.50 per session.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 73% in Wiltshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 78% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 74 families put Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 102 named it as one of their preferences, for 75 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 Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School are The Manor CofE VC Primary School (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, 60% reading, 68% maths); River Mead School (0.8 miles, Good, 47% reading, 44% maths); Aloeric Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 58% reading, 64% maths); and Bowerhill Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 73% reading, 80% maths).
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
The Manor CofE VC Primary SchoolRiver Mead SchoolAloeric Primary SchoolBowerhill Primary School
The trust
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School is one of 30 schools run by The White Horse Federation, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
131 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 64% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (64%).
Who goes there
14.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Melksham Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cranesbill Road (ne-bound), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 110 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Wiltshire (34), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School issued 29 suspensions, 6.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school creates a nurturing environment where pupils develop independence and curiosity from the early years. Reading is central to everything the school does, with excellent phonics teaching and tailored support for those who need it. Pupils thrive across all subjects through a well-designed curriculum, and they benefit from a caring community where behaviour is exemplary and every child is encouraged to develop their talents.
Key Strengths
- Reading is at the heart of the school's work, with strong phonics teaching and additional support for struggling readers
- Well-designed curriculum clearly sets out important knowledge and vocabulary in the right order, with regular opportunities to revisit and recall
- Exemplary pupil behaviour across the school, with effective routines enabling children to work independently from the early years
- Exceptional provision for personal development including well-being support, residential visits, and opportunities for pupils to take on responsibilities
- Strong leadership at all levels with effective governance and prioritisation of staff workload and well-being
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with pupils feeling safe and having five trusted adults they can speak with if worried.
Extracurricular Activities
School council, house captains, sports ambassadors, collective worship, school choir, local care home performances, foodbank donations, charity fundraising, residential visits, clubs
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School is a happy and welcoming school where pupils flourish, with high expectations that enable them to thrive across all subjects. All key judgements were rated Outstanding, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
At a Glance
14.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
131 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 78% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 70% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 87% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.7
Avg class size
25.4
Infant (KS1)
29.1
KS2
13
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
TWHF gifts educational book bag to new reception pupils
27 Jul 2026
TWHF Primary Sporting Excellence 2026
16 Jul 2026
A Proactive Approach to Allergy Management
30 Jun 2026
Changes to Free School Meals Guidance
12 Jun 2026
TWHF Shortlisted for Two Awards at ‘The Oscars of Education’
8 May 2026
National Primary Offer Day 2026
16 Apr 2026
From Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School is in Wiltshire; for families living there:
Apply to Wiltshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 8 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wiltshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wiltshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
82%
Available places
431 pupils
525 places
94 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Melksham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Melksham
Across Wiltshire council
Places available
6,156
Applications
4,455
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Wiltshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
82
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
21.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
460
Total Pupils
229
Boys
231
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
17.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,573
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2412k
Total funding
£100k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
10.3%
Persistent absence
378
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
Questions parents ask about Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Wiltshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 525 places.
How big are the classes at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School average 27.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School has around 460 pupils on roll. 14% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 10.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Wiltshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary 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.
How many road collisions happen near Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 8 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School?
Forest and Sandridge Church of England Primary School is at Cranesbill Road, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 7GN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)