Gentleshaw Primary Academy, Rugeley

Ofsted's report card from its 6 January 2026 inspection grades Gentleshaw Primary Academy 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.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have implemented effective systems to track and support attendance."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school has recently experienced turbulence in leadership for a short period of time."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a well-structured personal development programme."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Where variability in teaching exists, pupils struggle to recall and remember their learning and do not develop the breadth of knowledge and skills they need."

Early years - Needs attention. "Staff do not have the right expertise to consistently maximise children's learning in early writing."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Some staff do not have the right expertise to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that staff have the necessary skills and expertise to effectively deliver the curriculum, including the school's phonics programme, so that pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need. • Leaders should ensure that all staff have a precise understanding of the barriers to learning and/or wellbeing that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities face and understand how to overcome them. • Leaders should ensure that there are frequent, high-quality interactions to develop language and vocabulary across all areas of the early years provision to enable children to develop their foundational knowledge over time".

In its own words: "We nurture AMBITIOUS, CONFIDENT, AND REFLECTIVE citizens who achieve their personal best and demonstrate RESILIENCE, COMMUNICATE clearly and SOLVE PROBLEMS determinedly and live by our core values o f THRIVE."

From the headteacher's welcome: "To our wonderful pupils, supportive parents, and community visitors, it is a privilege to lead Gentleshaw Primary Academy. As your Headteacher, my commitment is to ensure that our school is a place where every child is seen, supported and inspired to achieve beyond their imagination."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include netball, tennis, art and French.

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Gentleshaw Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 96% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 77% in Staffordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 69% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Gentleshaw Primary Academy as their first choice and 46 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 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 Gentleshaw Primary Academy are Boney Hay Primary Academy (1 mile, Good, 61% reading, 70% maths); Holly Grove Primary Academy (1.3 miles, 94% reading, 85% maths); Chase Terrace Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 69% reading, 78% maths); and Hazel Slade Primary Academy (1.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 70% maths).

Gentleshaw Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Gentleshaw Primary Academy is one of 7 schools run by Future Generation Trust, 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.

85 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Gentleshaw Primary Academy (as of April 2026): 67% would recommend the school, 72% say their child is happy there and 22% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (74%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (22%).

4.5% 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.

In 2026, 20 pupils (10%) received SEN support and 3 (1.5%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Gentleshaw Primary Academy.

In August 2026, police recorded 5 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, public order offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86).

In 2024/25, Gentleshaw Primary Academy issued 7 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.