Needwood CofE Primary School Review 2026: Tiny roll, big expectations, and a values-led culture

A small village primary that runs on close relationships, mixed-age teaching, and clear expectations. With a roll of around 70 pupils and a capacity of 90, classes are organised in mixed-age groups, which helps staff know children well and gives older pupils genuine leadership roles.

Academically, the data is striking. In 2024, 100% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, against an England average of 62%. Reading and mathematics scaled scores (113 and 110) are well above England averages, and grammar, punctuation and spelling sits at 115. In FindMySchool’s primary outcomes rankings (based on official data), the school is ranked 29th in England and 1st locally for the Burton-on-Trent area, placing it among the highest-performing in England (top 2%).

Faith is present but not exclusionary in tone. The school’s Christian ethos, alongside values framed around the fruits of the spirit, shapes daily routines and the way pupils treat each other.

The defining feature here is scale. When a school is this small, culture is less about programmes and more about consistency, language, and adult behaviour. Mixed-age classes also change the social dynamic. Younger pupils have visible role models and older pupils are expected to help. The Ofsted report describes older pupils listening to younger pupils read during buddy time, which is exactly the sort of practice that works well in a small setting because it becomes routine rather than a one-off initiative.

The leadership model is also distinctive. Mr Matthew Baxter is the Executive Headteacher, and Mrs Donna Preston is Head of School. In practical terms, that usually means day-to-day decisions and presence sit with the Head of School, while the Executive Headteacher provides strategic direction across more than one school.

Christian distinctiveness is woven through pupil leadership and community action. Pupil leaders vote for a Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister after candidates make a speech in worship, with voting via a ballot box. That is a concrete, age-appropriate way to teach democracy and accountability.

The school’s language for ethos is consistent. It uses Hand in hand with God, we love, learn and achieve as its headline motto, and pupils are described as kind, well-mannered, and self-controlled. Where that matters for parents is not the phrasing but the behavioural implication, a calm school depends on predictable routines and adults who follow through.

The headline is that results are exceptionally strong for a state primary.

In 2024, 100% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined. The England average is 62%, so this sits far above the national picture. At the higher standard, 53.33% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores reinforce the same message. Reading is 113 (England average is 100), mathematics is 110 (England average is 101), and grammar, punctuation and spelling is 115 (England average is 102).

FindMySchool rankings, based on official outcomes data, place the school 29th in England and 1st in the Burton-on-Trent local area for primary performance. That positioning is consistent with the results profile and indicates a school operating at the very top end of the state sector.

A practical note for parents, small cohort sizes can make percentages more volatile year to year. The most useful question is whether the underlying teaching model is stable, and the wider evidence points to coherent curriculum planning and strong professional development, including collaboration across the trust.

Teaching here is built for a mixed-age context. The Ofsted report confirms three mixed-age classes, with Reception to Year 2 together, Years 3 and 4 together, and Years 5 and 6 together. In a structure like this, sequencing and revisiting matter because pupils are learning alongside children at different stages.

Reading is a clear priority from the start. Reception begins with systematic early reading, and staff are described as reading experts who monitor, assess and track progress closely. The detail that stands out is the combination of sharp assessment and strong home partnership, including reading workshops for parents and carers.

Curriculum design is described as ambitious and carefully planned, with deliberate cross-curricular links. The report also references use of repetition, rhymes, and physical actions to build sticky knowledge. In practical terms, that approach tends to benefit pupils who need extra scaffolding, while also helping higher-attaining pupils develop automaticity.

SEND identification is also described as accurate and systematic, including the creation of pupil passports and bespoke staff training. For families whose child needs adjustments, the implication is that support is planned and communicated, rather than improvised.

This is a primary school, so the main transition point is into Year 7 at local secondary schools. The strongest evidence on transition is developmental rather than destination-specific. The Ofsted report states that pupils leave Year 6 as proficient and confident readers and are well prepared for secondary school.

For families thinking longer-term, it is also worth noting that the school sits within John Taylor Multi Academy Trust. Trust membership can matter at transition because staff often collaborate across phases and can share curriculum expectations, assessment language, and safeguarding practice. Needwood is part of the trust, alongside a range of primaries and secondaries listed on Ofsted’s provider page.

If you are comparing likely secondary options, FindMySchool’s Local Hub pages and Comparison Tool can help you compare local secondaries side by side, using the same metrics rather than mixed sources.

Needwood is its own admissions authority, but applications are made through Staffordshire’s coordinated admissions process for Reception.

For September 2026 entry, Staffordshire states that the online application service opens on 01 November 2025 and closes on 15 January 2026. Offer day is 16 April 2026.

Oversubscription is real, even at a small school. The admissions dataset shows 18 applications for 9 offers in the most recent cycle provided, which is effectively two applications for every place, with the route marked oversubscribed.

The published admission arrangements for 2026 to 2027 include, after children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, priority for siblings, then pupils in the catchment area, then pupils demonstrating a commitment to a Christian Church (with supporting clergy letter), and then distance from the school gate using straight-line measurement.

The school also encourages prospective families for September 2026 to book a tour to see the school in action. Dates are not published as fixed open days, so plan on arranging a visit directly via the school office rather than waiting for a calendar listing.

If proximity may be a deciding factor for you, use FindMySchoolMap Search to measure your distance precisely and sense-check your shortlist, even where last-offer distances are not published.

Pastoral support is grounded in relationships and in a small-school model that makes early intervention easier. The Ofsted report describes staff investing time to get to know pupils, trusted relationships beginning in early years, and older peers supporting younger pupils in class and around school.

There is also a defined nurture element. The report references a nurture provision that offers bespoke support and strategies for pupils who encounter difficulties, with an aim of developing resilience, independence, and self-esteem.

Safeguarding is treated as core business. The November 2024 inspection confirmed safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the federation’s safeguarding statements emphasise shared responsibility and current statutory guidance.

In a small primary, the best extracurricular offer is one that is reliable and linked to the school’s wider aims, confidence, physical health, performance, and contribution.

Clubs include sport and music, with specific examples in the Ofsted report: tag rugby and a toot music club, where pupils perform to families at Christmas. Those two examples matter because they show both participation and a performance endpoint, which builds confidence for pupils who might not naturally volunteer in front of others.

The website also notes that Footsteps Sports Academy provides a number of clubs, and that they run holiday clubs at the school, with the timetable varying by half term. That suggests a rotating offer rather than a fixed menu, which can be a good fit for pupils who like variety.

Forest School is a genuine feature, not a marketing label. The programme includes den building, fire lighting, treasure hunts, and safe tool use such as sawing and cutting, alongside learning about the forest environment. Groups also visit the Deer Park at Hoar Cross to learn about farming.

Pupil leadership is another strand of enrichment. The pupil leader structure, including the Prime Minister role elected by ballot after speeches in worship, gives older pupils public speaking practice and responsibility for representing the school to visitors.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school day runs 9.00am to 3.30pm, and term dates and inset days are published online.

Lunches are provided by Mellors Catering, with menus shared weekly so families can see what is coming up.

Wraparound care information for Needwood is not clearly published as a standalone offer on the school website. Families who need breakfast or after-school care should ask directly when arranging a visit. For transport, this is a rural setting and many families will drive or walk where possible, so it is worth checking drop-off logistics during a tour.

• Small cohorts cut both ways. The benefit is familiarity and rapid support; the trade-off is a narrower peer group in each year and less anonymity for children who prefer to keep their head down.

• Mixed-age classes require adaptability. Many pupils thrive with older role models and younger mentoring opportunities, but some children prefer a simpler single-year structure. Ask how learning is pitched within each mixed class.

• Competition for places. With about two applications per offer in the most recent admissions dataset, securing entry can be the hurdle. Understand the admissions priorities, especially catchment, church commitment evidence, and distance.

• Faith is present in daily life. The ethos is framed around Christian values and worship-linked routines, including pupil leader speeches in worship. Families comfortable with a Church of England character will find it coherent; others should check how inclusive this feels in practice.

Needwood CofE Primary School pairs an unusually small roll with unusually high academic outcomes. The combination of mixed-age teaching, explicit values, Forest School, and structured pupil leadership creates a setting that can suit children who enjoy close relationships, clear routines, and opportunities to contribute.

Best suited to families who want a Church of England primary with very strong outcomes, and who can engage early with Staffordshire’s admissions process. The limiting factor is admission rather than what follows.