South Marston Church of England Primary School, Swindon
South Marston Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Swindon, part of The Blue Kite Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 58th-highest of the 65 schools in Swindon with published results, and 12,897th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.4 first-choice applications for every place. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Swindon (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
South Marston Church of England Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at South Marston Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 60% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Swindon and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (64% in reading, 55% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at South Marston Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 22 families put South Marston Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at South Marston Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to South Marston Church of England Primary School are Grange Infants' School (1.2 miles, Good); Grange Junior School (1.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 70% maths); Colebrook Infant Academy (1.6 miles, Good); and Colebrook Junior School (1.6 miles, Good, 66% reading, 58% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than South Marston Church of England Primary School.
Grange Infants' SchoolGrange Junior SchoolColebrook Infant AcademyColebrook Junior School
The trust
South Marston Church of England Primary School is one of 27 schools run by The Blue Kite Academy 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.
What parents say
21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about South Marston Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
5.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (5%).
In 2026, 13 pupils (12.9%) received SEN support and 1 (1%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Swindon Rail Station, about 3.2 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Village Hall (w-bound), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 25 crimes within a mile of the school, most often public order offences, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Swindon (132).
Suspensions and exclusions
South Marston Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 February 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
South Marston is a warm, inclusive school where every child is truly known and valued. The school expertly teaches children to read fluently from their earliest days and offers exceptional enrichment experiences - from performing arts to residential trips - that help pupils develop resilience and leadership skills. Parents consistently praise how the school helps children 'learn, grow, thrive and overcome obstacles.'
Key Strengths
- Clear focus on inclusive values and the 'South Marston Way' creates warm, nurturing relationships between staff and pupils
- Strong phonics teaching and early reading programme that develops confident, fluent readers
- Ambitious, well-planned curriculum with identified key knowledge in most subjects
- Quick identification of pupils with SEND and effective support through partnership with external agencies
- Rich personal development experiences including residential trips, community involvement, and leadership roles for all pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects are not implemented as precisely as the more developed subjects, meaning pupils do not gain the same depth of knowledge across all areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear systems in place and an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Jewellery making, cross country running, performing arts, lunchtime clubs for physical activity, before- and after-school clubs, residential trips to Shropshire, local museum visits, trips to Bourton on the Water and Stratford-Upon-Avon, coffee mornings, food bank support
South Marston Church of England Primary School has successfully maintained the high standards from its previous good rating. The school is an inclusive community where pupils are happy, safe, and develop a love of learning through rich opportunities and strong relationships with staff.
At a Glance
5.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
21 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 declined from 64% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 55% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 91% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.3
Avg class size
24.0
Infant (KS1)
32.0
KS2
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with South Marston Church of England Primary School
Term dates
South Marston Church of England Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Swindon's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to South Marston Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. South Marston Church of England Primary School is in Swindon; for families living there:
- Swindon's school travel policy: School travel support
- How to apply: Apply for school travel support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
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 Swindon is 15.5 (the median across 92 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 South Marston Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at South Marston Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against South Marston Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for South Marston Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to South Marston Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Swindon, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at South Marston Church of England Primary School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Swindon 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
93%
Near capacity
98 pupils
105 places
7 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Swindon
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Swindon
Across Swindon council
Places available
3,059
Applications
2,416
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
99.4%
All primary applications across Swindon council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
13.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
101
Total Pupils
52
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
16.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,692
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,082
Per pupil
£627k
Total funding
£15k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.8%
Overall absence
4.3%
Persistent absence
94
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
South Marston Church of England Primary School
Questions parents ask about South Marston Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at South Marston Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at South Marston Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 60% reached the expected standard in reading and 60% did so in maths.
What is South Marston Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
South Marston Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for South Marston Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When South Marston Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Swindon allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at South Marston Church of England Primary School?
South Marston Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at South Marston Church of England Primary School?
Classes at South Marston Church of England Primary School average 25.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to South Marston Church of England Primary School?
South Marston Church of England Primary School has around 101 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at South Marston Church of England Primary School?
3.8% of sessions were missed at South Marston Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 4.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to South Marston Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Swindon's coordinated admissions process, naming South Marston 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 South Marston Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 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 Swindon is 15.5 (the median across 92 schools, same distance and years).
Where is South Marston Church of England Primary School?
South Marston Church of England Primary School is at Old Vicarage Lane, South Marston, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 4SH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)