Steam Mills Primary School, Cinderford

Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.0km)Possible (~1.5km)Unlikely (~1.9km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Mel Davis
Pupils:128 / 119 capacity
LA:Gloucestershire
Phone:01594822567
Address:Steam Mills, Cinderford, GL14 3JD
Federation:Forest Federation of Soudley, Steam Mills and Woodside Primary Schools
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

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
Needs Attention
Inspected 2 June 2026View full report
URN:115522
UKPRN:10080686
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Forest of Dean
Urban/Rural:Urban: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Steam Mills is a caring, respectful school where pupils are well-behaved, kind to one another, and enjoy coming to school. Most children make good progress in reading, writing and maths and leave Year 6 well-prepared for secondary school. The school values inclusion and provides rich learning experiences including trips and visits that help pupils understand different cultures and develop a love of learning.

Key Strengths

  • Pupils' behaviour is excellent, with positive attitudes supported by well-established routines and the school's 'SHINE' principles
  • High attendance rates in line with or above national averages, with strong parent partnerships
  • Rich, well-designed curriculum with effective teaching of phonics and early reading for most pupils
  • Inclusive approach with good support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
  • Strong personal development programme including visits to places of worship, Parliament, and cultural venues

Areas for Improvement

  • Early years provision is not effective - children do not develop the skills and knowledge needed for Year 1
  • Some staff lack precision when teaching letter sounds in phonics, slowing reading progress for some pupils
  • Individualised targets for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND are not always precise and measurable enough
  • Outdoor provision in early years lacks opportunities for physical development, investigation and imaginative play
  • Range of extra-curricular activities is limited in scope

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled, resulting in pupils feeling safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Cookery club, music lessons and instrument tuition, cycling lessons, school council, library monitors, playground leaders, recycling and composting projects, trips to Bletchley Park, theatres, museums, Cheltenham literacy festival, Houses of Parliament, places of worship, Cheddar caves

Steam Mills Primary School is an inclusive school where pupils leave well-prepared for secondary education with above-average results in Year 6 national tests. However, the early years provision requires significant improvement as children do not build the skills needed for Key Stage 1.

At a Glance

22.7%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+11ppMaths+11ppWriting+11pp

Reading has improved from 82% to 93%. Maths has improved from 82% to 93%. Writing has improved from 76% to 87%.

Class Sizes

28.0

Avg class size

4

Total classes

2 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Primary School (opp)
37m · 1 min walk
The Branch (before)
251m · 4 min walk
Quarry Junction (by)
289m · 5 min walk
Garage (by)
324m · 5 min walk
Cottages (opp)
324m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

108%

Over capacity

128 pupils

119 capacity

9 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Cinderford

Low pressure
New homes approved:276
Projected new pupils:69

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Cinderford

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(7)

2 June 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
2 February 2022
17 January 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

4.95007%

Overall absence

11%

Persistent absence

100

Enrolments

Authorised3.84615%
Unauthorised1.10391%
Persistent (10%+)11%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.18838%
18/19
6.31312%
20/21
6.53933%
21/22
6.28919%
22/23
5.58181%
23/24
4.95007%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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