Knightlow CofE Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining village primary with a clear Christian vision

A one-form entry Church of England primary with a strong results profile, Knightlow CofE Primary School sits well above typical England performance on the measures parents usually care about most. In 2024, 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, and a striking 45% achieved the higher standard. That combination usually signals two things at once, consistent teaching routines and a culture where pupils are expected to explain their thinking, not just get the right answer.

The school’s current leadership is new. Mrs Claire Woolley started as headteacher in September 2024, and the most recent inspection judged early years provision as Outstanding alongside Good judgements across the other key areas.

For families in and around Stretton-on-Dunsmore, the big practical question is admission. Reception has 30 places, and the school prioritises its defined local parishes, with additional priority for practising Christian families who submit the required supplementary form by the deadline.

Knightlow’s identity is explicitly faith-rooted, but not narrowly drawn. The school frames its community as a “Knightlow family” and describes a vision centred on every child reaching their full potential, supported by a Christian ethos and a commitment to dignity and respect. It also states that it works with local church partners while welcoming pupils from a range of backgrounds.

The latest inspection describes a friendly, welcoming community where pupils feel safe and confident about seeking adult support when worried. That sense of emotional security matters in a primary setting because it tends to show up in attendance, behaviour, and pupils’ willingness to attempt difficult tasks.

There is also a clear thread of pupil leadership and voice. The school’s British Values information sets out democratic pupil roles, including head pupils and school councillors chosen through a democratic process. For parents, that usually translates into more structured routines for responsibility, older pupils modelling behaviour, and a school culture where children are expected to contribute rather than simply comply.

A final note on context: 2025 marked the school’s 50th anniversary of opening, which signals a relatively modern foundation compared with many village primaries, but long enough to have deep local roots and multi-generational links.

Knightlow’s primary outcomes place it well above England averages. In 2024, 91% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 45% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with 8% across England. Scaled scores were also strong, at 110 in reading, 108 in mathematics, and 110 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

On the FindMySchool ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 764th in England and 2nd in Rugby for primary outcomes. That sits comfortably in the top 10% of primary schools in England, which is a level of performance that tends to be sustained by consistent teaching and clear curriculum sequencing rather than one exceptional cohort.

Parents comparing local options may find it useful to use FindMySchool’s Local Hub Comparison Tool to view outcomes alongside other nearby primaries, particularly if you are weighing travel, sibling logistics, and wraparound care.

Reading is positioned as a central pillar. The most recent inspection describes effective phonics delivery, pupils becoming fluent readers quickly, and a culture built around books and reading routines, including pupil roles such as reading ambassadors and older pupils reading with younger buddies. For families, this tends to mean a strong emphasis on decoding in the early years, then a quick shift toward comprehension, vocabulary, and wider reading habits once fluency is established.

Curriculum information indicates a broad offer, with emphasis on outdoor learning and enrichment through trips, visitors, and clubs. In history, the school states it uses the Kapow Primary scheme, a structured approach that foregrounds chronology and disciplinary thinking. For parents, a scheme-led approach can bring consistency across year groups, which often helps pupils who move between classes or join mid-phase.

Inclusion is not treated as an add-on. The school promotes the use of Makaton and describes an ambition to be recognised as a Makaton Friendly School. This is a practical, classroom-level decision, it supports communication for pupils with speech, language and communication needs, but it can also normalise supportive communication strategies across the whole class.

As a Warwickshire state primary, most pupils transfer into the local secondary system at Year 7 through coordinated admissions, with families choosing preferences and priority areas shaping outcomes. Knightlow’s own materials focus more on readiness and transition than on naming particular destination schools, and older inspection material references a structured transition programme for Year 6.

For families who want precision, Warwickshire provides tools to help identify the relevant priority area or nearest secondary school based on home address. This is particularly useful where village geography sits near several plausible routes. Parents can also use FindMySchool’s Map Search to sense-check home-to-school distance and shortlist realistically, especially if you are comparing multiple schools with different priority areas.

Knightlow is a voluntary aided Church of England primary, and its admissions arrangements are set by the governing body, with applications made through Warwickshire’s admissions process. Reception has a published admission number of 30, and the school also sets an upper limit of 32 pupils in Years 3 to 6 to avoid the learning and wellbeing impact of larger classes.

The school serves a defined priority area that includes Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Frankton, Marton, Princethorpe, Bourton and Draycote, and children living in these villages receive priority. Within that structure, the 2026 to 2027 admissions policy sets out oversubscription criteria that include looked-after and previously looked-after children, sibling priority (within the priority area), and a practising Christian criterion within the priority area, evidenced via a supplementary information form that is signed and returned by the admissions deadline.

For September 2026 Reception entry in Warwickshire, applications open on 01 November 2025 and the deadline is 4.00pm on 15 January 2026. National Offer Day is 16 April 2026, and there is an extended deadline of 01 February 2026 for changes of address (subject to evidence requirements).

Demand is meaningful. For the primary entry route in the provided dataset, the school was oversubscribed with 72 applications for 30 offers, which is 2.4 applications per place. That level of pressure makes it sensible to treat Knightlow as a first-choice option only if your priority area position and criteria alignment are realistic, rather than aspirational.

Pastoral strength at Knightlow is closely tied to relationships and clear routines. The most recent inspection describes warm relationships, pupils feeling safe, and older pupils taking responsibility and acting as role models. In a primary setting, that usually shows up in consistent behaviour across year groups rather than isolated pockets of calm.

Safeguarding information on the school website makes clear that safeguarding is treated as a central priority and identifies multiple designated safeguarding leads within the senior team, which is a sensible structure for a one-form entry school because it reduces the risk of single-point dependency.

The Christian ethos is also woven into wellbeing language, with an emphasis on dignity, respect, and inclusion. Importantly for families who are not practising Christians, the school’s own description highlights welcome and partnership across the community, which suggests the ethos is expressed through expectations and culture rather than through narrow gatekeeping in daily life.

Knightlow’s enrichment offer is easier to pin down than many primary websites manage, because several named activities are published. The extracurricular offer includes tennis, football club and multi-skills club, alongside Hot Shots and a Musical Theatre Group. Named clubs matter, not because they are inherently better than generic activities, but because they are a sign of sustained staffing or provider relationships, which usually makes participation more reliable term to term.

Outdoor learning also has a defined place in early years and key stage routines. Reception information references Forest School as part of the week, which tends to support confidence, teamwork, and language development, particularly for pupils who learn best through practical exploration.

Sport appears to be a school-wide strength. The inspection highlights the sporting offer, including for pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities, and the school’s own physical education information references tracking participation and an ambition for at least half of pupils to attend a sports club or compete against another school in a sport over the year.

The wider community element is tangible too. School news describes large community events, including a circus hosted on the school field with significant volunteer involvement. For families, that signals a school that is comfortable organising large-scale social events and leaning on parent and community partnership.

The school day is clearly published. Doors open at 8:45am and school starts at 8:55am. Reception finishes at 3:15pm, and Years 1 to 6 finish at 3:25pm.

Wraparound care is provided via Kids Planet Knightlow, located adjacent to the school, with care available from 7:50am to 6:00pm.

Uniform guidance includes a stated commitment to the Halo Code, which is relevant for families who want reassurance that hair texture and protective styles are treated with respect in day-to-day school expectations.

• Admissions complexity. As a voluntary aided Church of England school, the priority area and faith-related criteria can materially affect outcomes. If you are relying on faith priority, you need to be organised about the supplementary information form and deadlines.

• Leadership transition. The current headteacher began in September 2024, which can be positive for momentum and clarity, but it also means families should look closely at how routines, communication, and priorities are bedding in across the first full cycle.

• One-form entry realities. A smaller cohort can feel close-knit and stable, but it can also mean fewer peer-group options if a friendship group becomes difficult. It is worth asking how the school manages friendship issues and playground dynamics as pupils move into upper key stage 2.

• High attainment can bring pressure. Outcomes suggest high expectations. For some pupils this is motivating; for others it can become stressful if they need more time to consolidate. Asking about support for pupils who are capable but anxious is a sensible part of any visit conversation.

Knightlow CofE Primary School combines a clear Christian vision, strong community identity, and outcomes that place it well above England averages. The October 2024 inspection profile, with Outstanding early years alongside Good judgements in the other areas, points to a school that gets the foundations right and sustains generally strong practice across the primary phase.

Best suited to families who value a faith-informed ethos expressed through culture and relationships, want academically stretching classroom expectations, and are either within the priority villages or able to meet the published admissions criteria. The limiting factor for many families will be admission rather than the educational experience that follows.