Naunton Park Primary School Review 2026: Strong KS2 Outcomes, Calm Routines, Busy School Life

There is a particular kind of confidence you see in a well-run two-form entry primary, children know the routines, staff know the families, and the pace feels purposeful without feeling rushed. Naunton Park Primary School fits that mould, with a clear set of values presented publicly, and a strong academic profile at the end of Key Stage 2.

On results, the 2024 combined reading, writing and maths picture is comfortably above England average, and the school’s performance sits within the top quarter of primaries in England by ranking. Demand is also high, with more than four applications for every Reception offer in the most recent admissions data provided.

Leadership is established under headteacher Gayle Fletcher, who took up the substantive role in September 2022.

The setting does some of the talking. The school describes an Edwardian red-brick building in Leckhampton, backing onto Naunton Park and with views towards Leckhampton Hill. It also highlights an environmental area with a pond, alongside outdoor space and Forest School provision. These details matter because they shape daily life, especially for pupils who learn best through movement, structured play, and regular outdoor time.

The values list on the school’s website is unusually specific for a community primary: Kindness, Pride, Peace, Curiosity, Empathy, Trust. In practice, that reads as a school aiming for calm behaviour norms and a relational approach, rather than a compliance-first culture.

The most recent inspection describes a warm environment and an orderly climate, with clear expectations and pupils who understand that mistakes are part of learning. This links directly to what parents often want for this age group, a place where confidence grows because routines are secure and adults are consistent.

A final, practical marker of culture is how a school thinks about unstructured time. Naunton Park has an Outdoor Play and Learning approach, supported by a formal play policy, explicitly framing play as part of wellbeing and learning, not just “time off” from lessons.

Naunton Park’s latest published Key Stage 2 outcomes (2024) are strong in the measures most parents care about.

• Reading, writing and maths combined: 74.33% reached the expected standard, compared with the England average of 62%.

• Higher standard: 27.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, versus the England average of 8%.

• Scaled scores: Reading 108, maths 105, grammar, punctuation and spelling 110.

Those figures point to two things. First, the core basics are secure for a large proportion of pupils by Year 6. Second, the higher-standard figure suggests that higher prior attainers are not just coasting, a meaningful indicator in a mixed-ability community setting.

On rankings, the school is ranked 2,518th in England and 5th in Cheltenham for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places performance above England average, within the top 25% of schools in England (roughly the 17th percentile).

Parents comparing nearby schools can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view these measures side-by-side, particularly useful if you are weighing two or three realistic options rather than scanning league tables.

A clear priority is placed on reading and mathematics. The inspection evidence highlights well-established systems for checking what pupils know and remember, with staff adapting teaching when pupils start to fall behind. That tends to show up in outcomes as fewer “quiet gaps” by Year 6, because misconceptions get caught earlier.

Curriculum development is described as ongoing, with refinement still needed in a small number of subjects so that knowledge builds as precisely as it should. That is a common pattern in larger primaries, breadth is inherently harder to quality-assure across all foundation subjects, particularly when leadership capacity is being spread across multiple priorities.

Writing is the main area where the school is still embedding change. The inspection notes that some pupils do not yet secure the fundamentals of writing needed for later work, including handwriting, and that the newer writing curriculum should be fully embedded. For families, the implication is not “weak writing”, but that writing is an active improvement focus, and worth asking about at an open event if your child needs extra structure in composition, transcription, or fine motor control.

Provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is presented as inclusive and ambitious, with effective adaptation particularly secure in reading and maths, and less consistently adapted across all subjects.

As a primary school up to age 11, Naunton Park’s main transition point is Year 6 into local secondary provision. The school’s published materials place some emphasis on preparing pupils emotionally for transition, which aligns with what many families want, practical readiness plus the confidence to handle change.

For parents, the key choice is usually between local comprehensive options and any selective or specialist routes available locally. The best next step is to map realistic secondary schools based on your address, then review each school’s admissions rules and transport practicality. FindMySchoolMap Search can help you sanity-check distances and likely commutes while you shortlist.

Demand for Reception places is high. In the most recent admissions data provided, there were 203 applications for 49 offers, a ratio of 4.14 applications per place, and the entry route is marked oversubscribed.

For Gloucestershire, Reception admissions are coordinated by the local authority, and the published timetable for September 2026 entry ran as follows:

• Applications opened 3 November 2025

• Deadline 15 January 2026

• National offer day 16 April 2026

• Reply deadlines and waiting list timelines follow in late April and May 2026

These are exact dates for that cycle; timings are broadly similar each year, so families looking a year ahead should expect a November to mid-January window, then offers in April.

The school also publishes practical detail about induction. For September 2026, it notes a move to part-time starts in early September, before moving to full-time later in the month. That kind of phased start can help younger children settle, but it does require childcare planning for working families.

Open events are presented as a key way to understand fit, with Year 6 pupils involved in tours and the headteacher speaking about values and school aims. Dates are published by the school and typically sit in the autumn term, sometimes extending into early January. If you are reading this after listed dates have passed, treat that as the normal pattern and check for the next set of sessions.

The pastoral picture is strongest where it is most visible: routines, behaviour expectations, and the way pupils talk about learning. The inspection describes high expectations and calm social times, with pupils understanding that mistakes are part of building resilience.

Safeguarding is structurally embedded in leadership roles, with the headteacher named as the designated safeguarding lead and a wider deputy safeguarding lead team listed by role.

Play is also treated as part of wellbeing. The school’s approach explicitly links better playtimes to happier, healthier children and more settled learning back in class, a sensible framing for this age group.

For a primary, the breadth here is one of the school’s clearer differentiators. The school’s extracurricular list includes both sport and performance strands, plus a few options that hint at wider curriculum enrichment.

Examples that stand out:

• Music and performance: Choir, Young Voices, wind band, string band, recorders, and musical performance options.

• Sport and fitness: Hockey, netball, cross country, fitness circuits, squash, American football.

• Creative and practical clubs: Drama, dance, construction, plus language options such as Spanish.

Outdoor learning is not just a marketing line. Forest School is supported by published policies, and a Forest School health and safety document references sessions taking place both at school and nearby at Pilley Bridge Nature Reserve. The implication is that outdoor learning is planned and structured, not occasional.

Trips and local enrichment also feature prominently. The school states that pupils attend literature and science festivals locally, and that pupils have educational visits each term, with examples including The Living Rainforest, Cotswold Wildlife Park, and Bristol Museums.

The published school day runs 8:45am to 3:15pm, with compulsory attendance from 8:55am.

Wraparound provision is available through Naunton Park Kids’ Club, with before-school care 7:45am to 8:50am and after-school care 3:15pm to 5:45pm.

For travel, the school positions itself within the Leckhampton area, alongside Naunton Park and close to local green space. Many families will find that walking and cycling are realistic day-to-day options depending on address; those planning a move should check actual travel time at drop-off hours.

• Competition for places. Demand is high, with 203 applications for 49 offers in the most recent admissions data provided. If you are counting on this school, plan a realistic backup list early.

• Writing is a live development area. Curriculum work is ongoing in a small number of subjects, and embedding the newer writing curriculum is specifically identified as a next step. Families with children who need extra support in handwriting or writing structure should ask what interventions are in place.

• Wraparound requires coordination. Kids’ Club offers broad coverage across the week, but availability can vary by demand. If wraparound is essential for your family, clarify practicalities early in your planning.

• Outdoor learning is meaningful, but still weather-dependent. Forest School and OPAL-style play are part of the approach, which many children love. Some children, especially those who dislike outdoor unpredictability, may need support to settle into that rhythm.

Naunton Park Primary School combines a calm behavioural climate with strong Key Stage 2 outcomes, particularly in the reading, writing and maths headline measure, and with an above-average proportion achieving the higher standard. The Edwardian setting and outdoor learning emphasis add texture to daily life, while the extracurricular menu is broader than many local primaries.

Best suited to families who want an academically strong community primary with structured routines, regular outdoor learning, and plenty of clubs. The main challenge is admission, demand levels mean families should plan options carefully alongside this one.