Hempsted Church of England Primary School Review 2026: High-performing village primary with a strong reading culture

A small primary with a genuine village feel, Hempsted sits on the edge of Gloucester, with the Gloucester canal helping to separate the community from the city’s main urban area. Academic outcomes are a clear strength, with Key Stage 2 results well above England averages, and a local performance position that places it among the strongest primary schools in Gloucester on the FindMySchool measure.

The latest Ofsted inspection (March 2023) rated the school Good across all areas. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the report describes calm, purposeful lessons alongside a strong sense of care for pupils and families.

The school’s identity is unusually consistent across its website and official reporting, with the same vision and values language appearing repeatedly. The headline is a Church of England ethos that shows up in routine practices, rather than being confined to assemblies. Collective worship is a prominent feature, with a structured approach to Christian values and regular links to St Swithun’s Church next door.

That church connection is practical as well as cultural. The rector, Reverend Canon Nikki Arthy, is involved in school life, the children attend services across the year (including Harvest, Christmas, Easter and end of year services), and a Worship Club meets weekly to write prayers for services. The Open the Book team leads a weekly dramatised retelling of Bible stories, and families are invited to Messy Church sessions held monthly.

Pastoral support is also woven into the local partnership model. The school describes shared support for families through the parish Children and Families Worker, Rachel Laughton, and related initiatives such as Coffee and Chat, as well as wider community help through the church setting. For parents who value a school where family support is visible and joined-up, that is an important differentiator.

The performance data presents an unusually strong picture for a state primary. In 2024, 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared to the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 34% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared to an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores reinforce the same story. Reading was 108, mathematics 109, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 110, results that indicate consistently secure attainment across the core suite.

Rankings mirror these outcomes. Ranked 980th in England and 3rd in Gloucester for primary outcomes, this places the school well above England average (top 10%), based on FindMySchool rankings derived from official data.

For parents comparing local options, this is a school that holds up well on objective measures. Using the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool can help families benchmark this performance against other Gloucester primaries while keeping an eye on context such as cohort size and local admissions pressure.

Reading is treated as a central thread rather than a discrete subject. Early phonics is emphasised from Reception, and older pupils are supported to build fluency, vocabulary and confidence through regular practice and well-matched reading material. The school’s reading culture is reinforced through named initiatives that motivate pupils to read widely and talk about books critically, rather than simply measuring speed and accuracy.

Curriculum design is a second clear focus. The wider subject offer is presented as structured and deliberate, with careful sequencing of knowledge and skills from year to year. Where it works well, the learning experience becomes cumulative, so pupils revisit key ideas and add depth rather than repeatedly starting from scratch.

At the same time, it is worth being candid about the developmental edge. Official reporting highlights that curriculum planning is still strengthening in a small number of subjects, and that early writing opportunities in Reception have been a particular improvement priority. For most pupils, this will not be visible day-to-day, but it is relevant for families with children who need lots of repetition and practice in early transcription and mark-making.

As a primary school, the main transition point is Year 6 to Year 7. For Hempsted families, this usually means moving on to secondary schools in Gloucester and the wider county, with parents weighing up the balance between local comprehensive options and selective grammar routes. Gloucestershire’s secondary process makes clear that grammar entry involves both test registration and a separate coordinated application, and that achieving a qualifying score does not automatically secure a place.

For pupils aiming for selective routes, the county-level timeline matters. Grammar test arrangements for the September 2026 intake included a defined registration period and a September test date, followed by the standard secondary application deadline later in the autumn.

For families not pursuing selection, the practical question becomes travel time, friendship groups, and the pastoral fit at the receiving secondary school. A sensible approach is to plan Year 5 and early Year 6 around visits and open events at likely secondary destinations, then align that with your child’s learning style and resilience, rather than choosing based on reputation alone.

Hempsted is a state school with no tuition fees. Admissions for Reception are coordinated through Gloucestershire County Council’s process and deadlines. For September 2026 entry, the published application window ran from 3 November 2025 to midnight on 15 January 2026, with allocation day on 16 April 2026.

The school’s Published Admission Number is 30 for Reception, and local demand is material. In the most recent admissions dataset provided here, there were 76 applications for 30 offers, around 2.53 applications per place, with first-preference demand exceeding offers.

Oversubscription criteria for Gloucestershire community and voluntary controlled primary schools are clear and typical for the sector. Priority is given first to looked after and previously looked after children, then siblings, then distance measured in a straight line using the local authority’s system. Where categories are oversubscribed, distance is the tie-break, and if there is still a tie at the cut-off point, random allocation is used.

Because last offered distance data is not available here, families should treat proximity as helpful rather than decisive. FindMySchool’s Map Search is the right way to sanity-check your home-to-school distance in the same way the local authority will measure it, then pair that with a realistic backup preference list.

Pastoral support is a visible part of the school’s operating model, particularly through its partnership with the parish. The school describes a joined approach that includes in-school support and wider family support beyond the school day, with structured opportunities for parents to connect through Coffee and Chat sessions.

A second strand is the Early Help approach, framed as early identification and support for families as soon as concerns emerge, rather than waiting until issues become entrenched. This matters for parents who want a school that is proactive and collaborative when children need additional support, including emotional wellbeing and family pressures that spill into learning.

School values also do practical work in behaviour and relationships. Values-based recognition, house families, and leadership roles such as school councillors and house captains create a framework where pupils can contribute and be noticed for doing the right thing. For many children, that blend of expectations and recognition is what makes school feel secure.

Enrichment here is not framed as an add-on, it is integrated into both faith life and wider personal development. Worship Club is a genuinely pupil-facing leadership opportunity, with children writing prayers for services, and the Open the Book programme adds drama to weekly worship in a way that engages pupils who learn best through performance and participation.

Sport is treated as a significant pillar. The school positions itself as competitive and proud of sporting standards, and newsletters point to structured participation, including events such as Quad Kids and school teams competing in cups and tournaments. For pupils, the implication is simple: sport is not only for the naturally talented, it is part of the shared rhythm of school life, with opportunities for training, teamwork, and representing the school.

There are also distinctive wellbeing and community-facing activities that give this primary its own character. Examples referenced in published materials include gardening club time linked to the secret garden, tree planting and litter picking, and practical safety learning such as first aid training and online safety education. For parents, this signals a school that tries to build rounded citizenship alongside academic strength, which can be particularly appealing for families who want confidence and responsibility to develop in parallel.

The school day has clear timings. Breakfast club opens at 7.45am, the doors open at 8.50am and close at 8.55am, and the school day ends at 3.20pm. Wraparound care runs in term time from 7.45am to 5.30pm, based in the Blue Room with use of the playground where possible.

For travel, this is a local-school proposition for Hempsted families, with the strongest admissions priority typically linked to distance once the highest-priority categories are applied. Parents planning to drive should assume peak-time congestion around drop-off and pick-up and consider walking or cycling where feasible, particularly given the village setting and nearby canal routes mentioned in the school’s own description of its location.

• Competition for places. Reception has 30 places each year, and recent demand levels indicate oversubscription. Families should plan a realistic set of preferences rather than relying on one choice.

• Distance is a major lever. For voluntary controlled primaries in Gloucestershire, once the highest-priority groups are placed, distance measured as a straight line is the key differentiator. If you are on the margin, outcomes can be sensitive to small changes in applicant patterns.

• A strong Church of England identity. Worship, church services and faith-linked activities are a normal part of school life. Families who prefer a more secular experience should explore whether this ethos aligns with their expectations.

• Early years writing is an improvement focus. Official reporting identifies Reception writing practice as an area to strengthen, and curriculum sequencing in a few subjects is still being refined. Parents of children who need lots of early writing repetition may want to probe this during visits and conversations.

Hempsted Church of England Primary School combines objective academic strength with a clearly articulated values-led culture. The school’s small size, structured reading focus, and visible links with St Swithun’s Church create a distinctive experience that will appeal to many local families. Best suited to parents seeking a high-performing village primary with a strong Christian ethos and dependable wraparound childcare, and who are prepared for the reality that admission can be competitive.