Tugby Church of England Primary School Review 2026: Small village primary with strong Key Stage 2 outcomes

Morning drop off has a simple rhythm here: pupils line up by class at 08:50, and the day begins with a daily “wake and shake” before lessons get going. That routine suits a small primary where everyone is expected to be ready to learn, and where calm standards matter.

Academic results add weight to the impression. In 2024, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 34% reached greater depth in reading, writing and maths, compared with 8% across England. That is the kind of profile families notice when they are weighing rural primaries with mixed age classes and limited cohort sizes.

Leadership has also been in focus recently. The current headteacher, Anna Dyson, took up post in May 2024, working alongside executive headteacher Neil Bardsley within Rise Multi Academy Trust.

Tugby is a Church of England primary with roots that go back well beyond academy status. The school describes its foundation as dating to 1841, and that long association with the Diocese of Leicester still shows up in how the school talks about purpose and belonging.

The Christian vision is explicit and practical rather than ornamental. The school sets out a set of values (love, hope, trust, truth, respect, forgiveness) and links them to everyday expectations and celebration, including weekly recognition for pupils who show those behaviours.

Faith life is also outward facing. A SIAMS inspection dated 01 May 2025 highlights strong partnerships with local church congregations, and a close relationship between school and village life, including shared events and inter generational activities. For families who want a rural school where church and community links are active, that matters. For families who prefer a more secular feel, it is something to weigh carefully.

Small schools can feel limited if they retreat into “making do”. The evidence here points the other way. The same SIAMS report refers to a personal development approach that tracks pupils’ experiences over time, including residential trips, leadership roles, and practical local learning (it even references activities such as lambing). Weekly forest school sessions are also mentioned, giving pupils regular time outdoors for reflection and structured activities.

Performance data is for 2024 Key Stage 2 outcomes and shows a consistently strong pattern across subjects.

Combined expected standard (reading, writing and maths)

79% met the expected standard, above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard (reading, writing and maths)

34% reached the higher standard, compared with 8% across England.

Scaled scores

reading 109 and maths 108, both comfortably above typical England benchmarks for scaled scores.

Taken together, those figures suggest pupils are leaving Year 6 well prepared for the step up to secondary, not just meeting minimum thresholds but producing a sizeable proportion of higher prior attainment outcomes.

Rankings reinforce the picture. Ranked 2,082nd in England and 25th in Leicester for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), the school sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England.

For parents comparing nearby schools, it is worth using the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view these figures side by side with other options in the wider Leicester area, especially because cohort sizes in small schools can make year to year percentages look more changeable than they really are.

The strongest evidence on classroom practice comes from the most recent Ofsted inspection report (dated 03 June 2025), which describes a carefully sequenced curriculum across year groups and a thorough approach to checking what pupils know over time. That matters in a smaller primary, where staff need to be clear about progression and retrieval across mixed age classes.

Reading is treated as a priority. The Ofsted report points to staff training and early phonics support, plus deliberate work to build enjoyment, including “reading breakfasts” with parents and author visits. The implication for families is straightforward: children who need early confidence building in decoding and fluency are likely to be supported quickly, and children who already read widely should still find the culture recognises reading as central rather than optional.

Mathematics is also described as built in small steps, with gaps identified early and practical activities used to secure understanding. One concrete example given is Year 6 using movement to reinforce angles, which is a good marker for teaching that aims for secure concepts rather than rote methods alone.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is highlighted as a strength, with early identification and timely extra help referenced in the same report. In a small primary, this often translates into quicker noticing, fewer layers between parent and decision maker, and adults who know pupils well across the week.

As a state primary, the main transition point is Year 6 into Year 7. Leicestershire secondary admissions are coordinated through the local authority, and families will usually balance travel time, friendship groups, and the character of local secondaries when making choices.

What Tugby can control is readiness for the move. Evidence from inspections and the school’s own stated approach places emphasis on maturity, confidence, and personal development by the end of Year 6, alongside academic preparation. That combination tends to help children handle the social and organisational jump to a larger setting.

For families considering a move into the area, it is sensible to shortlist secondary options early, then work backwards to confirm whether Tugby is the right starting point. Saving candidate schools in a shortlist (for example using FindMySchool Saved Schools) makes it easier to keep track of admissions timelines across multiple phases.

Demand is real, despite the school’s small scale. For the most recent admissions dataset provided, there were 17 applications for 7 offers, a ratio of 2.43 applications per place, and the route is recorded as oversubscribed. That indicates families should not assume places are available by default simply because the school is small.

For Reception entry in Leicestershire for September 2026, the published key dates include: applications opening on 01 September 2025, the closing date on 15 January 2026, and National Offer Day on 16 April 2026.

The school’s admissions information also makes clear that applications are coordinated by the local authority, even though the academy trust is the admissions authority, so families should be prepared to follow the local authority process and the school’s published policy.

If you are judging how realistic admission is from a specific address, use FindMySchoolMap Search to check distance precisely and to sanity check other practical factors such as driving time. (Distance cut offs can vary by year, and this school’s last distance data is not consistently published in the material most parents see first, so it is especially important to verify through official routes.)

Pastoral support in a small school usually comes down to two things: availability of adults, and whether support is structured rather than improvised. Tugby references both. Class teachers being accessible at the start and end of the day is explicitly stated, and there is named Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) capacity for pupils who benefit from additional emotional support.

External evidence also supports a calm behaviour culture and high expectations. The latest Ofsted inspection (03 June 2025) found the school had taken effective action to maintain standards, and safeguarding was confirmed as effective.

Faith based reflection also appears in the school’s approach to wellbeing, with SIAMS describing structured opportunities for reflection and spirituality, and staff access to reflection and retreat days at Launde Abbey. While not every family will prioritise that dimension, it is part of the school’s identity and can shape the tone of collective worship and personal development work.

A small roll does not have to mean narrow experiences, but it requires deliberate design. Tugby’s evidence points to a model where enrichment is built into the week, not treated as an occasional add on.

Wraparound and activity based sessions

Before School Club runs Monday to Friday from 07:45 to 08:45, and After School Club runs Tuesday to Thursday from 15:30 to 17:30. These are not described as “sit and wait” sessions. The school lists a broad set of activities, including tennis and swing ball, hockey, dodgeball, badminton, running, stilt walking, diablo, frisbee, nerf rockets and plate spinning, plus indoor games and creative activities such as treasure hunts and performances.

Music and performance

The school states that a choir meets weekly, which is a simple but meaningful marker in a primary, because it creates a shared project across year groups and a regular performance pipeline.

Sport and leadership

A specialist sports coach runs lunchtime clubs on Fridays, and pupil leadership roles are explicitly referenced in official reports, including sports leaders and library monitors. The implication for parents is that pupils are expected to contribute to school life early, rather than waiting until Year 6 for responsibility.

Forest school and local learning

SIAMS describes weekly forest school sessions and a structured set of experiences beyond the classroom, including practical local projects and community events. That kind of programme often suits pupils who learn best through doing, and it also helps balance the intensity of Key Stage 2 assessment preparation.

The school day starts at 08:50 and finishes at 15:30. The main gate is locked at 09:00 and late arrivals go via the office. Break is 10:30 to 10:45; lunchtime runs 12:00 to 13:15 for younger pupils and 12:15 to 13:15 for older pupils.

Wraparound care is available via before and after school club provision, with published session times and pricing.

For transport, the school directs families to the local authority process to check eligibility for free home to school transport and to apply where relevant.

• A strong Church of England identity. SIAMS evidence points to close church links, collective worship as a daily feature, and faith shaped personal development. Families seeking a broadly secular ethos should read the school’s published Christian vision carefully before deciding.

• Small cohorts can magnify differences. With a small roll, year group percentages can swing more than in a two form entry primary. The 2024 outcomes are strong, but it is wise to look at the pattern over time and to ask how the school supports mixed attainment within small classes.

• Oversubscription is plausible even at a small school. The latest admissions demand data shows more than two applications per place in the relevant window. Families moving into the area should not assume places are automatically available.

• Wraparound sessions are structured, but not daily after school. After School Club is published as running Tuesday to Thursday rather than five days per week. If you rely on after school care daily, confirm whether alternatives are needed on Mondays and Fridays.

Tugby Church of England Primary School combines a clear values led identity with strong Key Stage 2 outcomes, and it appears to use its small scale as a strength rather than an excuse. The offer is most compelling for families who actively want a Church school ethos, alongside a calm learning culture and a broad approach to experiences beyond lessons. It suits pupils who respond well to high expectations, close relationships with adults, and regular responsibility through leadership roles. The main constraint is admission planning, because demand can still outstrip places in a small rural primary.