The Priory Primary School, Wednesbury

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades The Priory Primary School on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders actively promote positive pupil attitudes to attendance through the strategies they employ to enhance pupils' engagement in school."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have an accurate and informed understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders place inclusion at the centre of their work."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have an acute understanding of the school's strengths and priorities."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's approach to personal development is highly effective."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils learn and achieve well from their starting points."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a positive start in their early education."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that all pupils are consistently well prepared for the next stage in their education through sustaining strong reading outcomes at key stage 2".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to The Priory Primary School; a fantastic school that caters for pupils from a wide range of social backgrounds on the Friar Park Estate in Wednesbury. Our school is a happy and interesting place, where relationships with both pupils and parents are of the utmost importance."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at The Priory Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 75% in Sandwell and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 71% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 60 families put The Priory Primary School as their first choice and 99 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to The Priory Primary School are Hall Green Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 73% maths); Tameside Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 95% reading, 85% maths); Park Hill Primary School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 80% reading, 73% maths); and Pennyhill Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 64% maths).

The Priory Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Priory Primary School (as of April 2026): 95% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (76%).

46.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 120 pupils (26.2%) received SEN support and 21 (4.6%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Tame Bridge Parkway Rail Station, about 840 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School Road (after), 190 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Priory Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

The Priory Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to The Priory Primary School are Wodensborough Ormiston Academy (0.6 miles), The Phoenix Collegiate (0.9 miles), Joseph Leckie Academy (1 mile) and Wood Green Academy (1.1 miles).