Rowanfield Infant School, Cheltenham

Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 47

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~354m)Possible (~506m)Unlikely (~658m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Shona Riddell
Pupils:235 / 270 capacity
LA:Gloucestershire
Phone:01242515334
Address:Alstone Lane, Cheltenham, GL51 8HY
Trust:GLOUCESTERSHIRE LEARNING ALLIANCE
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2017

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 9 June 2026View full report
URN:144898
UKPRN:10064917
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Cheltenham
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Rowanfield Infant School creates a warm, welcoming environment where children thrive. Staff know pupils well, provide tailored support to help every child succeed, and deliver engaging lessons that inspire learning across all subjects. The school works closely with families to support attendance and wellbeing, making sure no child is left behind.

Key Strengths

  • Thoughtfully designed curriculum that builds knowledge over time across all subjects, including strong geography and history learning
  • Inclusive culture where all pupils feel valued and safe, with effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Well-developed early years provision with strong focus on social skills and fine motor control
  • Positive pupil behaviour and attitudes, with pupils polite, courteous and attentive in lessons
  • Strong leadership focused on pupil needs, with effective staff training linked to school priorities

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils' handwriting, letter and number formation needs further development
  • Year 1 phonics screening check results were below average in 2025 (though current pupils are learning phonics well)
  • Inconsistent implementation of handwriting and number formation teaching across the school

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has established an open culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

After-school clubs (hama beads club, computing club), pond-dipping trips, literature festival visits, walk with a hawk day, pupil parliament, play leader roles for Year 2 pupils

Rowanfield Infant School provides a nurturing and inclusive environment where pupils make progress from their starting points and achieve well across the curriculum. The school has strong safeguarding practices and supportive leadership that prioritizes the wellbeing of all pupils.

At a Glance

28.9%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

27.4

Avg class size

27.4

Infant (KS1)

9

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Brooklyn Road (in)
219m · 4 min walk
Bishop Court (opp)
324m · 5 min walk
Merriville Road (opp)
341m · 6 min walk
The Umbrella (o/s)
369m · 6 min walk
Saxon Quarter (opp)
371m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

87%

Available places

235 pupils

270 capacity

35 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(4)

9 June 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
25 January 2022
6 September 2017

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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

7.36754%

Overall absence

17.77778%

Persistent absence

180

Enrolments

Authorised5.85815%
Unauthorised1.50939%
Persistent (10%+)17.77778%
Severe (50%+)3.33333%

Absence trend

5.51533%
18/19
5.95336%
20/21
7.62575%
21/22
8.86234%
22/23
8.06072%
23/24
7.36754%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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