Seva School Review 2026: Sikh all-through with a values-led culture and improving outcomes

A school built around the Sikh principle of seva (selfless service) creates a distinctive tone here, even for families with no faith background. Seva School is Coventry’s only Sikh faith school and it is all-through, taking pupils from Reception to Year 11 on one site, which can simplify family logistics and give children continuity through key transition points. The school opened on 01 September 2014 and has grown steadily since.

Mrs Sukhjinder Sanghera is the Principal, and the school’s published governance register lists her appointment as Principal and Accounting Officer from 06 June 2022.

Academically, the picture is mixed but trending in a constructive direction. Primary outcomes (KS2) are a strength, with 2024 results comfortably above England averages in the combined measure. At secondary, Progress 8 sits strongly positive, which indicates students are making above-average progress from their starting points. The latest Ofsted inspection in November 2022 judged the school Good across all areas.

The school’s stated ethos is explicit: selfless service, excellence, virtues and aspiration, grounded in the Sikh faith and linked to British values. The named virtues, kindness, courage, honesty, tolerance, respect and responsibility, are not treated as marketing language. They are integrated into the language pupils hear daily, and they sit alongside an expectation that pupils contribute positively to others, whether through mentoring, leadership roles, or service-oriented activities.

As an all-through setting, Seva can offer something many parents value: a single set of routines, behaviour expectations, and pastoral systems that follow pupils across phases. For some children, especially those who find change difficult, the move from Year 6 to Year 7 can feel far less disruptive when it happens within the same organisation. There is also a strong practical benefit for families with siblings, one drop-off culture rather than two.

The school is candid about being “small” in feel, and that matters more than the headline capacity figure. The atmosphere described in formal reports is one where pupils feel safe, relationships are positive, and behaviour is typically calm in lessons and social times. When that baseline is secure, it gives staff more room to focus on curriculum and learning rather than constant reset.

A notable, school-specific feature is how Sikh identity is treated as both knowledge and practice. Pupils are expected to understand core Sikh teachings and vocabulary, and faith practice is described as part of daily life (for example, prayer and meditation are referenced explicitly in the school’s ethos statements). Crucially, the school also positions itself as welcoming to families of other faiths and none, and this is reinforced through the way respect for difference is framed as a normal expectation rather than a special initiative.

Primary (KS2)

In 2024, 76.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 25% reached greater depth in the combined measure, well above the England average of 8%. Science is also strong, with 86% meeting the expected standard, above the England average of 82%.

Scaled scores provide more texture than percentages alone. Reading is 104, mathematics 105, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 107, each comfortably above the typical national benchmark of 100, and consistent with a primary phase where foundations are being secured effectively.

On the FindMySchool primary ranking (a proprietary ranking based on official data), Seva School is ranked 6,314th in England and 29th in Coventry for primary outcomes. That places performance broadly in line with the middle 35% of primary schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), with stronger-than-average attainment measures in the published headline percentages suggesting particular strengths in this cohort.

Secondary (GCSE)

At secondary level, the headline accountability signal is Progress 8. Seva School’s Progress 8 score is +0.64, which indicates students, on average, make well above-average progress compared with pupils nationally who had similar prior attainment. That is an important point for families weighing a school that has grown and stabilised over time, progress measures can better reflect what the school adds than raw attainment alone.

Attainment 8 is 44.4. EBacc entry and success measures are an area many parents now ask about because they connect to subject choice and academic breadth. Here, 16.2% achieved grade 5 or above across the EBacc components, and the school’s EBacc average point score is 3.96.

On the FindMySchool GCSE ranking (a proprietary ranking based on official data), Seva School is ranked 2,107th in England and 14th in Coventry for GCSE outcomes. That again sits broadly in the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), which is consistent with a school that is working to consolidate quality while maintaining an inclusive intake.

Parents comparing schools locally should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and the Comparison Tool to view these figures alongside nearby options, particularly for Progress 8 and curriculum entry patterns, which often differ markedly across Coventry.

A core strength identified in formal evaluation is curriculum thinking across phases, the sequencing of knowledge from Reception to Year 11, and clarity about what pupils should remember. That matters because “all-through” can become two schools sharing a logo unless curriculum and assessment are genuinely connected. Here, curriculum coherence is repeatedly presented as a leadership priority.

In early reading, the approach is structured, with daily phonics and staff training to support consistent delivery. The improvement point is also specific and useful: for some early readers, reading books sent home have not always matched pupils’ taught phonics knowledge, which can slow fluency. Families with Reception and Key Stage 1 children should ask how book-banding and decodable matching are currently managed, and what checks are in place to prevent drift across classes.

At secondary, teaching quality is described as variable. Where subject knowledge and explanation are strong, lessons are adjusted responsively, including targeted revisit when pupils struggle with concepts. The stated improvement need is consistency, ensuring all staff use tasks and explanations that help pupils secure key information effectively. For parents, the practical implication is that experience may differ by subject and year group, and it is worth asking leaders how coaching, subject training, and quality assurance operate now, especially after a period of organisational turbulence referenced in staff feedback.

Special educational needs and disabilities support is framed as inclusive, with most teachers able to adapt learning, but again the key issue is consistency of targeted support. Families of children with additional needs should look for clarity on what “adaptive teaching” looks like in practice, and how interventions are reviewed for impact rather than simply delivered.

Transition at Year 6 and continuity into Year 7

One advantage of an all-through model is reduced uncertainty at the primary to secondary transition. Seva’s published admissions policy states that pupils in Year 6 are guaranteed a place in Year 7 unless the family has notified the local authority of the decision to leave at the end of Year 6. For families already in the school, that can remove a significant stress point.

Post-16 pathways

Seva School does not operate a sixth form, so the main exit point is at 16. Careers education is described as structured from early years onwards and then developed through a careers fair and links with different providers in the secondary phase. The practical expectation is that students should leave Year 11 with a clearer understanding of routes into sixth form study, further education, apprenticeships, and employment than would be typical if careers were confined to a single week.

Because published destination percentages are not available here, parents should focus on the quality of guidance and the strength of local provider links. A sensible question at open events is how the school supports students who want academic A-level routes versus those aiming for technical pathways, and how it identifies and supports students at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training.

Seva School participates in the Coventry local authority coordinated admissions process. Applications are made through the Common Application Form route, and the school’s admissions policy is explicit that ability is not part of admission decisions.

A distinctive element is the faith priority structure. If the school is oversubscribed, up to 50% of places can be allocated to Sikh applicants under Priority Group A, with remaining places allocated to non-Sikh applicants under Priority Group B. Sikh applicants who want to be considered within the faith priority route must complete the Supplementary Information Form, which scores commitment across areas such as daily prayer, initiation, service, and participation in Sikh education.

For non-Sikh families, the relevant point is that at least 50% of places are allocated without reference to faith, using standard oversubscription criteria such as looked-after status, sibling link, eligible staff children, and then distance (straight-line measurement).

Demand indicators are available for both entry points. For Reception, there were 41 applications for 22 offers, which equates to 1.86 applications per place, and the entry route is marked oversubscribed. For Year 7, there were 103 applications for 71 offers, equating to 1.45 applications per place, also marked oversubscribed. In practical terms, families should plan early and treat Seva as a realistic but competitive option at both entry points.

Admissions timings for September 2026 entry are clearly published by Coventry. Reception applications opened 01 September 2025 and the on-time deadline was 15 January 2026, with offers on 16 April 2026. Year 7 applications opened 01 September 2025 and closed 31 October 2025, with offers on 02 March 2026.

If distance is a deciding factor for your family, use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check your exact home-to-school measurement and track how close you are likely to be relative to typical allocation patterns, while recognising that oversubscription outcomes can shift year to year.

Pastoral strength at Seva is anchored in clarity of expectations and consistency of routines, which is often the difference between a calm school and a reactive one. Pupils are described as knowing what bullying is and being confident issues are resolved quickly, which matters because it signals trust in adults rather than simply low reported incidents.

A useful feature for pupils who benefit from responsibility is the range of structured roles available. Examples referenced in formal reporting include Seva buddies, faith leaders and form representatives. These roles do more than reward good behaviour. They can build confidence and self-management, and they fit naturally with the school’s service-led identity.

Safeguarding is treated as a core operational discipline, with staff training and responsiveness to emerging risks noted in formal documentation. Families should still ask practical questions, how concerns are recorded, how staff are briefed on local contextual risks, and what pupils learn in personal, social, health and economic education about consent, relationships, and online safety. The school’s published curriculum coverage includes these themes within a structured PSHE programme.

The co-curricular offer is most credible when it reflects the school’s identity rather than generic club lists. Seva’s enrichment is framed as service, confidence-building, and cultural participation, and the examples give it substance.

At secondary age, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is encouraged from Year 9. The school positions it as aligned with the SEVA ethos, and it gives students a structured way to build volunteering, skills development, physical activity, and expedition experience over time. The implication is straightforward, students who engage seriously come away with evidence of reliability and initiative that is useful for post-16 applications.

The King’s Trust programme is another distinctive feature. It is described as a targeted intervention approach that supports confidence, skills, and access to education, employment or training, with a delivery model that uses practical tasks and reflection alongside support in English and mathematics. For families of students who need structured confidence-building and tangible achievement to re-engage, this can be an important lever.

Creative and cultural participation also appears in the statutory Sikh inspection report. Students took part in a Coventry City of Culture and Royal Shakespeare Company collaboration project, producing a short film based on Sikh experiences in Coventry across generations. Pupils also perform kirtan. These examples matter because they show a school connecting faith, identity, and civic life through real projects rather than purely classroom discussion.

Sport and performance activities are referenced directly, including martial arts, Tabla and football. In a small school, these named activities often become a key part of belonging, particularly for students who find their motivation through structured practice and performance.

For primary-age wraparound, provision is delivered through an external provider link and published schedules include Breakfast Club from 7.30am to 8.45am, plus after-school Activity clubs with named options such as Multi Sports, Lego, Arts and Crafts, and MadLabs, alongside later care packages on certain days. This is practical childcare first, but it also creates routine and social stability for younger pupils. Costs are published, for example £6.95 per Breakfast Club session and £6.70 per after-school Activity session.

Seva School operates defined day structures for both phases. Primary timings begin with line-up from 8.15am and include phonics and reading from 8.30am, with lessons and breaks structured across the day. Secondary timings include tutor time from 8.30am, with periods running through to a final period ending at 4.15pm on Tuesday and Thursday when Period 6 is scheduled.

Wraparound care is signposted through the school’s Wrap Around Care page, which directs families to register via the linked provider service. Published arrangements include both breakfast and after-school sessions.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still plan for normal school costs such as uniform, trips, and optional clubs. For families weighing transport and travel time, the school sits in Walsgrave Triangle on the outskirts of Coventry, and daily logistics will depend on your specific home location and traffic patterns.

• Faith-based admissions complexity. Up to 50% of places can be allocated via a Sikh faith priority route when oversubscribed, and Sikh applicants must complete a scored Supplementary Information Form to be considered within that route. Non-Sikh places are available, but families should understand the structure clearly before applying.

• No sixth form. Students leave after Year 11, so families need to plan early for post-16 pathways and ensure the chosen route, A-level, technical, or apprenticeship, fits the child. Careers guidance is described as structured, but the decision remains significant.

• Teaching consistency is a development point. Formal evaluation highlights variability in subject delivery and in how well tasks and explanations support learning in some areas. Parents should ask how staff training and curriculum quality assurance now work across subjects.

• Early reading book matching. For some early readers, reading books have not always been matched closely to taught phonics knowledge. If you are applying for Reception or Key Stage 1, it is worth asking how this is currently managed.

Seva School offers a distinctive proposition in Coventry: an all-through, Sikh faith-based setting that aims to combine clear moral expectations with an inclusive welcome for families of any faith or none. Primary outcomes are a clear strength, and secondary progress measures suggest the school can add meaningful value across Year 7 to Year 11. Admission is the main hurdle rather than the education that follows, particularly for families seeking specific entry points and considering the faith-priority structure.

Best suited to families who value a virtues-led culture, want all-through continuity from Reception to Year 11, and are comfortable engaging thoughtfully with how Sikh identity and British values are integrated into daily school life. Families shortlisting should use Saved Schools to track open events, questions to ask, and deadlines across multiple Coventry options.