St John's C of E Academy, Coleford

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Church of England
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~2.0km)Possible (~2.8km)Unlikely (~3.6km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Jennifer Thomas
Pupils:155 / 210 capacity
LA:Gloucestershire
Phone:01594832046
Address:Bowens Hill Road, Coleford, GL16 8DU
Trust:THE DIOCESE OF GLOUCESTER ACADEMIES TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2017

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:145123
UKPRN:10065194
Diocese:Diocese of Gloucester
Constituency:Forest of Dean
Urban/Rural:Urban: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

St John's excels at supporting every child, especially those facing challenges or with additional needs. The school creates a warm, caring environment where children thrive academically and personally, with strong results in reading and writing. Parents particularly praise the school's support for children with special needs and the wealth of opportunities available to all pupils.

Key Strengths

  • Early years provision is exceptional with vibrant, engaging learning spaces where children thrive
  • Pupils achieve particularly well in phonics and reading, with significant improvements in writing and handwriting
  • Strong inclusive approach with well-targeted support helping disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND make steady progress
  • Excellent attendance rates above the national average, supported by effective strategies
  • Warm, caring relationships between staff and children create a secure, supportive environment

Areas for Improvement

  • Some inconsistencies in how effectively teachers deliver the curriculum in certain lessons
  • Some tasks do not build sufficiently on previous learning, limiting progress in some lessons
  • Pupils have limited knowledge of the range of cultures and religions found across Britain

Safeguarding

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

Extracurricular Activities

Sports clubs, arts clubs, games clubs, residential trips with canoeing and climbing, house captain roles, eco-councillor positions, lunchtime clubs run by pupils, online safety sessions, assembly-based learning activities

St John's C of E Academy is a strong performing school with an ambitious curriculum and inclusive approach. Leaders are determined to provide high-quality education, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.

At a Glance

36.1%

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-19ppMaths+12ppWriting+6pp

Reading has declined from 77% to 58%. Maths has improved from 63% to 75%. Writing has improved from 73% to 79%.

Class Sizes

25.7

Avg class size

22.0

Infant (KS1)

6

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

St John's School (by)
79m · 1 min walk
Victoria Road (nr)
114m · 2 min walk
Oakfields Estate (on)
126m · 2 min walk
Oakfields (before)
225m · 4 min walk
Sunnybank (by)
334m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

74%

Available places

155 pupils

210 capacity

55 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Coleford

Low pressure
New homes approved:414
Projected new pupils:104

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Coleford

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(104)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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

4.05683%

Overall absence

7.85714%

Persistent absence

140

Enrolments

Authorised2.98986%
Unauthorised1.06697%
Persistent (10%+)7.85714%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

4.31521%
18/19
3.44486%
20/21
5.04552%
21/22
6.72152%
22/23
5.38591%
23/24
4.05683%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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