Steam Mills Primary School, Cinderford

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Steam Mills Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 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 leave Steam Mills Primary School well prepared for the next stage of their education."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations for pupils' attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate view of the quality of the curriculum and teaching at the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Steam Mills is an inclusive school where staff build positive relationships with pupils, families and carers."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "School leaders and governors act in the best interests of pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school has a coherent and well-planned programme for pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Early years - Needs attention. "Leaders have identified that the early years needs further development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders must ensure the learning environment in the early years is purposeful and language-rich so that activities promote high-quality learning and support children's development of communication and early literacy"; "Leaders should ensure that all staff, especially in the early years, engage in high-quality interactions that deepen children's understanding and vocabulary"; "Leaders should further develop how they support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring that pupils' targets are specific so that staff know when they have been achieved and can move pupils on to new targets swiftly".

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 4:30pm.

In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at Steam Mills Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 75% in Gloucestershire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 82% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Steam Mills Primary School as their first choice and 45 named it as one of their preferences, for 17 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Steam Mills Primary School are Drybrook Primary School (0.9 miles, 75% reading, 81% maths); Woodside Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 65% maths); Forest View Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 81% reading, 85% maths); and Mitcheldean Endowed Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 87% reading, 84% maths).

Steam Mills Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

1.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Steam Mills Primary School.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Steam Mills Primaryl (opposite), 40 metres away.

Steam Mills Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Steam Mills Primary School are SGS Forest High School (1.2 miles) and Dene Magna and Sixth Form (1.8 miles).