Wistanstow CofE Primary School, Craven Arms
Wistanstow CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Craven Arms. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 7 schools in Craven Arms with published results, and 14,181st of 14,452 across England. It was 60% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Shropshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Wistanstow CofE Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils at Wistanstow CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 40% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Shropshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (38% in reading, 50% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Wistanstow CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Wistanstow CofE Primary School as their first choice and 11 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Wistanstow CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Wistanstow CofE Primary School are Stokesay Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); Onny CofE (A) Primary School (4.3 miles, 50% reading, 50% maths); Clunbury CofE Primary School (4.9 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and Norbury Primary School and Nursery (5.6 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 100% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Wistanstow CofE Primary School.
Stokesay Primary SchoolOnny CofE (A) Primary SchoolClunbury CofE Primary SchoolNorbury Primary School and Nursery
What parents say
11 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Wistanstow CofE Primary School (as of September 2025): 55% would recommend the school, 73% 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 (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
7.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 4 pupils (7.8%) received SEN support and 2 (3.9%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Staffing
Wistanstow CofE Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 10 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Craven Arms Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church (adjacent), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Shropshire (10).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Wistanstow CofE Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; 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 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are enthusiastic and proud to attend this small village school. They build lasting friendships that they value. This gives them a strong sense of security and belonging. Pupils attend regularly and behave well. They start the day with smiles and laughter as they eagerly meet their friends.
The school's expectations of pupils' academic achievements have been too low in the past. Expectations are increasing, and changes are underway. Pupils now follow a curriculum that enhances their knowledge. However, the curriculum is not taught consistently well. Recent improvements to the curriculum have not yet impacted on pupils' knowledge. Some pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do not make sufficient progress to be fully prepared for secondary school.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has recently taken action to revise the curriculum. Staff have identified the important knowledge that pupils are expected to learn. They have ensured that this knowledge progresses logically over time. However, pupils have not yet begun to study the new curriculum content in all subjects.
Staff are developing their subject knowledge, but there is still variation in adults' expertise. Sometimes, the explanations that teachers provide and the tasks that they set do not help pupils to learn well. For instance, pupils do not always have sufficient opportunities to practise new learning. This means that the curriculum is not yet impacting on pupils knowing and remembering more in each subject.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2015 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
7.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
11 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 improved from 38% to 50% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 50% to 40% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 13% to 40% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.5
Avg class size
29.0
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Wistanstow CofE Primary School
Term dates
Wistanstow CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Shropshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Wistanstow CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Wistanstow CofE Primary School is in Shropshire; for families living there:
Apply to Shropshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 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 Wistanstow CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Wistanstow CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Wistanstow CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Wistanstow CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Wistanstow CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Shropshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Wistanstow CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Shropshire 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
60%
Available places
50 pupils
84 places
34 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Craven Arms
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Craven Arms
Across Shropshire council
Places available
3,420
Applications
2,582
Got 1st preference
97.4%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Shropshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
4
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
11.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
51
Total Pupils
20
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
10.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,949
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,593
Per pupil
£491k
Total funding
£6k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.9%
Overall absence
18.6%
Persistent absence
43
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Wistanstow CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Wistanstow CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 50% reached the expected standard in reading and 40% did so in maths.
What is Wistanstow CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Wistanstow CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Wistanstow CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Shropshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
Wistanstow CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 60% of its 84 places.
How big are the classes at Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
Classes at Wistanstow CofE Primary School average 25.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
Wistanstow CofE Primary School has around 51 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
6.9% of sessions were missed at Wistanstow CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 18.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
Apply through Shropshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Wistanstow CofE 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.
What are Wistanstow CofE Primary School's term dates?
Wistanstow CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Shropshire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Thursday 2 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 7 April 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Monday 24 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Wistanstow CofE Primary School?
Wistanstow CofE Primary School is at Wistanstow, Craven Arms, Shropshire, SY7 8DQ.
Sources: Shropshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)