Hesters Way Primary School, Cheltenham

Good
Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~433m)Possible (~618m)Unlikely (~803m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Miss Kirsti Ashman
Pupils:171 / 210 capacity
LA:Gloucestershire
Phone:01242525616
Address:Dill Avenue, Cheltenham, GL51 0ES
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 September 1998

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago
Good

Overall

Requires Improvement

Quality of Education

Requires Improvement

Behaviour & Attitudes

Good

Personal Development

Good

Leadership & Management

Good

Early Years

Inspected 6 January 2026View full report
URN:131250
UKPRN:10075552
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Tewkesbury
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Hesters Way Primary School excels at welcoming all pupils and making sure every child gets the support they need to succeed. The school has created a warm, inclusive environment where children feel safe, respected and ambitious for learning - from those starting in early years with low starting points through to Year 6. Staff are dedicated to nurturing each child's talents and interests, providing enrichment experiences that broaden horizons and prepare pupils well for their next steps.

Key Strengths

  • Highly effective early years provision with nurturing, inclusive approach and strong focus on early reading skills
  • Exemplary inclusion practices ensuring all pupils, especially those with SEND and English as additional language speakers, receive tailored support
  • Strong leadership with clear priorities and swift action leading to measurable improvements in reading and writing
  • Well-structured personal development programme fostering pupil confidence, safety and understanding of British values
  • Positive pupil behaviour and relationships, with particular success supporting pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs

Areas for Improvement

  • Need for continued engagement with parents and carers to secure higher pupil attendance rates
  • Some pupils joining key stage 2 with very low starting points still achieve below national expectations by end of Year 6, despite good progress

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Outdoor learning, residential trips, Young Voices

Hesters Way Primary School is a high-performing school that has achieved strong standards across all areas including early years, inclusion, leadership, and personal development. The school demonstrates exceptional commitment to supporting all pupils, particularly those with additional needs and disadvantaged pupils, ensuring they make good progress from their starting points.

At a Glance

53.8%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+6ppMaths-6ppWriting+7pp

Reading has improved from 67% to 73%. Maths has declined from 73% to 67%. Writing has improved from 60% to 67%.

Class Sizes

26.4

Avg class size

25.3

Infant (KS1)

27.3

KS2

7

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Lipson Road School Stop (after)
102m · 2 min walk
Dill Avenue (corner of)
105m · 2 min walk
St Thomas More Church (nr)
169m · 3 min walk
Howell Road (opp)
210m · 3 min walk
Bramley Road (opp)
227m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

81%

Available places

171 pupils

210 capacity

39 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Cheltenham

Medium pressure
New homes approved:3,175
Projected new pupils:794

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Cheltenham

Admissions Demand - Gloucestershire

Low demand0.79x oversubscription

Places available

7,383

Applications

5,834

Got 1st preference

91.9%

Got preferred school

98.5%

Primary admissions across Gloucestershire (2025/26)

Inspection History(8)

6 January 2026
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesRequires Improvement
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
Early YearsGood
3 November 2021
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
Early YearsGood
17 January 2018
Requires ImprovementReport
Leadership & ManagementRequires Improvement

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

7.54397%

Overall absence

27.38095%

Persistent absence

168

Enrolments

Authorised5.61392%
Unauthorised1.93005%
Persistent (10%+)27.38095%
Severe (50%+)0.59524%

Absence trend

5.6298%
18/19
5.37302%
20/21
8.44137%
21/22
8.96102%
22/23
7.98576%
23/24
7.54397%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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