St Peter's Church of England Controlled Primary School and Nursery Review 2026: High-achieving village school with a strong early years start

This is a small, rural Church of England primary in Edgmond, close to Newport, with a reputation for calm routines, high expectations, and a strong sense of belonging. It is state-funded, so there are no tuition fees. The school’s recent statutory outcomes are strong, with Key Stage 2 performance placing it well above the England picture and within the top 10% of primaries in England on FindMySchool’s rankings.

Leadership has recently changed, with Mr Howard Auckland listed as headteacher on Get Information About Schools (GIAS) in January 2026. The most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, judged all key areas as Outstanding, including early years.

Rural primaries can sometimes feel either very traditional or very informal. Here, the tone is better described as purposeful and organised, with a clear moral frame rooted in Christian values and an explicit sense of responsibility. The school’s stated Christian values are woven through day-to-day language and leadership messaging, and links with the local church are presented as part of school identity, rather than a bolt-on.

The most persuasive evidence for “feel” comes from the way pupils are expected to contribute. Pupils take on roles such as school councillors, faith councillors, and safety guardians, and the school has even formalised a pupil treasurer role that connects with budgeting for improvements. That is a concrete signal that pupil voice is taken seriously, and it tends to suit children who like structure and responsibility.

Early years matters here because nursery is not just childcare attached to a primary, it is a key part of how the school builds language and early reading habits. The December 2024 inspection material describes a language-rich start in the early years and emphasises reading foundations beginning in Nursery. For families choosing between a school nursery and alternative early years settings, the implication is straightforward: this is a setting that treats early communication and early literacy as core, not optional extras.

Leadership is a notable current feature. GIAS lists Mr Howard Auckland as headteacher (updated January 2026). The school website also names Mr Auckland as headteacher and places him at the centre of safeguarding leadership, which is often a good indicator that leadership responsibilities are visible and clearly assigned.

Academic outcomes at Key Stage 2 are a clear strength, and the data provides both attainment and depth, not just “meeting the standard”.

In 2024, 88.7% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 36.7% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%. Reading and mathematics scaled scores are also high, at 110 for reading and 108 for mathematics (with a grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled score of 111). These figures indicate not only that most pupils reach the expected benchmark, but that a sizeable proportion exceed it.

FindMySchool’s primary outcomes ranking places the school 650th in England and 2nd locally for Newport. This places it well above England average, in the top 10% of schools in England. (These are FindMySchool proprietary rankings calculated from official data.)

For parents, the practical meaning is that teaching and curriculum consistency is translating into secure basics by the end of Year 6, with a meaningful proportion working beyond age-related expectations. If you are comparing nearby options, the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool can help you review these outcomes side-by-side with other local primaries, using the same underlying metrics.

The strongest signals here are about curriculum sequencing and checking for understanding, rather than any single “star subject”.

The December 2024 inspection material describes an ambitious, carefully structured curriculum that starts in early years, with planned exposure to books, poems and stories across the primary years. A specific example given is the way a text about Charles Darwin is introduced in Year 3 and then revisited in greater depth in Year 6. This is a strong example-evidence-implication chain: the example is deliberate revisiting of content; the evidence is planned text selection across year groups; the implication is that pupils build durable knowledge rather than learning topics once and moving on.

Assessment practice is also described in concrete terms, with staff using proof of progress (POP) tasks to check learning and address misconceptions. In a primary context, that kind of routine checking usually benefits pupils who need quick correction of small misunderstandings before they become embedded, and it also supports consistent standards across classes, which can matter in a one-form entry setting.

PE is described as a planned curriculum with a minimum of two PE sessions a week for each class, mapped across year groups. For children who thrive with predictable progression and skill-building, that kind of mapping can be more effective than an approach dominated by ad hoc games.

As a village primary serving Edgmond and the Newport area, Year 6 leavers will typically move on to a mix of local secondaries, and families may consider both non-selective and selective routes depending on the child and local availability.

The most reliable evidence available publicly is that transition is taken seriously as a process, with planned support as pupils move between phases. This includes structured transition work through school, rather than leaving the Year 6 to Year 7 move to chance. The implication is that pupils should be well-prepared for the organisational and academic jump, particularly those who benefit from predictable routines.

For families planning ahead, it is worth treating Year 5 and early Year 6 as the moment to map realistic secondary options and travel time. If you are shortlisting based on proximity and realistic admissions chances, the FindMySchoolMap Search is the most practical way to check distances precisely and compare options.

Reception entry is coordinated through the local authority. For September 2026 entry, Telford & Wrekin’s published closing date for Reception applications is 15 January 2026, with offers issued on 16 April 2026. The same council guidance also makes clear that families must apply for a Reception place even if a child currently attends a school nursery, with no automatic right of transfer.

Demand is a defining feature. The most recent admissions data available here shows 61 applications for 31 offers, which equates to around 2 applications per place. That aligns with the school’s “oversubscribed” status. For parents, the implication is to treat this as a competitive choice and to use all available preferences strategically.

Because this is a Church of England voluntary controlled school, families should read the published admissions arrangements carefully to understand how criteria are applied in practice. The school website signposts prospective visits, which is a sensible first step for assessing fit and asking practical questions about nursery routines, wraparound care, and support for specific needs.

Safeguarding structures are clearly set out. The school website lists four designated safeguarding leads, including the headteacher and leaders spanning early years and key stages. This sort of distributed safeguarding leadership often matters in small schools because it reduces dependency on a single individual being present.

Pastoral culture also shows up in the responsibilities pupils are given. Roles such as safety guardians and faith councillors, alongside structured leadership roles within pupil voice, typically create a culture where pupils are expected to look outwards, not just focus on their own experience.

Inclusion is also positioned as a priority. The school’s SEND information signposts recognition through Inclusion Quality Mark Flagship School status, which is useful context for families seeking a mainstream setting that takes inclusive practice seriously.

Clubs and enrichment are presented as a routine part of school life, not occasional add-ons. The school runs extra-curricular clubs after school, typically for an hour from 3.15pm to 4.15pm. Alongside that, wraparound care is designed to integrate with clubs rather than compete with them, explicitly referencing activities such as Choir, Arts and Crafts, and Lego. That matters for working families because it reduces the friction between enrichment and childcare.

Holiday provision is also clearly described. Holiday club is run for children from Nursery to Year 6 during the Easter and summer holidays and includes activities such as baking, arts and crafts, board games, multi-sports and forest school. The practical implication is that the school is trying to provide continuity of care and activity through the year, rather than leaving families to patch together alternatives.

Sport is not treated casually either. The school reports achieving the School Games Mark GOLD award for the 2022 to 2023 school year. For many families, that is a useful shorthand that participation and engagement in school sport has been prioritised and externally recognised.

The school and nursery day begins at 8.45am, with doors opening at 8.35am. The school day ends at 3.15pm, and the afternoon nursery session ends at 3.30pm. Wraparound care is available, with breakfast provision from 7.30am and after-school care running until 6pm. Holiday club provision is also described for Easter and summer periods.

Travel and parking is a real-world consideration in a village setting. The school advises that on-site parking is limited, encourages walking where possible, and notes additional parking options locally, alongside cycle storage at the front of the school.

• Competition for places. Recent admissions figures show roughly two applications per place. If you are relying on a Reception place, treat this as a high-demand option and plan realistic alternatives alongside it.

• Nursery to Reception is not automatic. Council guidance is explicit that attending a school nursery does not guarantee a Reception place, and a formal application is still required.

• Faith character is real. The school’s Christian ethos and links with the church are part of daily identity. Families comfortable with this often find it a positive anchor; families seeking a fully secular experience may prefer to look elsewhere.

• Village-site practicalities. Limited parking and peak-time congestion can be a stress point. For families who commute, it is worth testing the routine at drop-off and pick-up times before committing.

St Peter's Church of England Controlled Primary School and Nursery is a high-performing rural primary with a clear ethos, structured routines, and strong early years foundations. Outcomes at Key Stage 2 are well above England averages, and the most recent inspection evidence reinforces the picture of consistent expectations and a carefully planned curriculum.

Best suited to families who want a values-led village primary with strong academic outcomes, clear pastoral structures, and practical wraparound options. The main constraint is admissions, demand is high, so shortlisting should be realistic and organised.