Shipston-on-Stour Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining, values-led primary with strong wraparound

Shipston-on-Stour Primary School is a larger-than-average primary for local families, with a clear emphasis on three everyday behaviours: kindness, courage, and responsibility, summed up on the school website as “The Shipston Spirit”.

Academic outcomes at the end of Year 6 are a headline strength. In 2024, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. A sizeable group also reaches higher standards, which matters for children who are already working securely at age-related expectations. (See Results for detail.)

Operationally, it is built around practicality. The school day is 8.45am to 3.15pm, with both breakfast provision and a dedicated after-school club running to 6pm, plus published pricing for families who need consistent childcare across the week.

Leadership is stable. The headteacher is Mr Glyn Roberts, with the governing information and the school’s staff listing both placing him in post from September 2019.

The school’s public-facing identity is unusually specific for a primary. Rather than a long set of aspirational statements, it narrows behaviour and culture down to “Be Kind, Be Brave, Be Responsible”. That framing is helpful for families, because it signals what staff are likely to praise, notice, and correct day-to-day.

A second strand is pupil voice. The most recent inspection notes that each class has representation on the school council, and that pupils take responsibilities seriously. In practice, this tends to suit children who like having a role, a badge, a job, or a clear contribution beyond their own classroom work.

There is also a clear safeguarding culture, presented as routine rather than reactive. Ofsted’s January 2023 inspection confirmed the school continues to be Good, and stated that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Inclusion is visible in the school’s current structure. Alongside mainstream classes, The Dovecote opened in September 2024 as a specialist resource provision for pupils with communication and interaction difficulties who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The published model includes small numbers, a lead teacher, and a programme designed to support gradual integration with mainstream peers where appropriate. For families, the practical implication is that inclusion is not only a principle but also resourced through a defined pathway for children who need a more individualised bridge into full-time mainstream learning.

Shipston-on-Stour Primary School’s 2024 outcomes put it above England averages across the main headline measures.

• Expected standard (reading, writing and maths combined): 82% of pupils met the expected standard, compared with the England average of 62%.

• Higher standard (reading, writing and maths): 37.67% reached the higher standard, compared with the England average of 8%.

• Science: 89% met the expected standard, compared with the England average of 82%.

Those figures describe a school that is doing two things at once, getting most pupils securely to the expected standard, and stretching a substantial proportion beyond it.

Test scores add texture. In 2024, the average scaled score was 108 in reading and 107 in maths. Scaled scores of 100 or above indicate the expected standard, so those averages suggest pupils are performing comfortably above the threshold.

Rankings should be read in context, but they support the picture of a strong performer. Ranked 2,340th in England and 2nd locally for primary outcomes, this is a proprietary FindMySchool ranking based on official data. With an England percentile of 15.44%, performance sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

Parents comparing local options should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to place these outcomes alongside other nearby primaries, as small differences in cohort size and pupil intake can shift percentages year to year.

The school’s curriculum messaging is consistent across its website and official reporting: reading is treated as central, and subject content is sequenced deliberately so pupils build knowledge over time rather than meeting topics as isolated units.

In the January 2023 inspection narrative, curriculum planning is described with concrete examples, such as pupils building geographical knowledge from local features in early years through to more complex concepts later on. The practical implication for families is that learning should feel cumulative, which often benefits pupils who need clear structure, as well as those who enjoy revisiting and extending ideas.

Early reading is treated as a priority. The same official narrative describes daily phonics for pupils at early stages, with targeted support in small groups where needed. For many children, that combination of routine and timely extra help is what prevents small gaps from becoming long-term barriers.

As a primary, the key transition is into Year 7. For most families, that route is shaped by Warwickshire’s admissions system and local school geography, with Shipston High School commonly forming the next step for many children in the area.

What matters more than naming a destination is how well pupils are prepared for secondary expectations. The January 2023 inspection record states that pupils work hard in lessons and are prepared for secondary school by the time they leave Year 6. Strong end-of-Key-Stage-2 outcomes also tend to widen options, especially for pupils who may later apply for selective places or specialist pathways.

Families considering later selection should be realistic about the difference between a primary that achieves strong SATs outcomes and the separate demands of entrance testing. Strong literacy and numeracy foundations help, but selection processes have their own format and timeline.

Admissions are coordinated through Warwickshire County Council’s process, with the school following the local authority’s coordinated admissions scheme.

Catchment and priority area

This is not a school where “just being nearby” is the full story. The school publishes a defined priority area (often described by families as catchment) covering Shipston-on-Stour and several named surrounding parishes, plus specified parts of other parishes.

The published admission number is 60 for Reception. Where applications exceed places, the admissions arrangements set out oversubscription criteria in priority order, including looked-after children, children with relevant medical or social needs, siblings, and priority area residence, followed by other criteria.

The demand signal in the most recent admissions dataset is competitive but not extreme. For the relevant entry route, there were 68 applications for 49 offers (about 1.39 applications per place), and the school is classed as oversubscribed. This is the level where accurate distance and category fit can matter.

Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise position against the priority area rules, and to sanity-check assumptions before relying on a place.

Key dates for September 2026 entry

The school’s published admissions arrangements for 2026-27 include explicit dates:

• Applications open: 1 November 2025

• National closing date: 15 January 2026

• National offer day: 16 April 2026

• Appeals deadline (for a guaranteed hearing by mid-July): 15 May 2026

If you miss the closing date, late applications can still be submitted, but the process becomes less predictable. Families should rely on the local authority’s published guidance for up-to-date handling of late submissions.

The school’s pastoral offer is not presented as a single role; it is framed as an approach. A key part of that is Thrive, described by the school as a therapeutic approach supporting children’s emotional and social development, with identified Thrive practitioners and both individual and small-group sessions depending on need.

For families, the important point is what this looks like in practice. The published examples include structured activities such as storytelling, circle games, relaxation, and sensory play approaches, used to help children recognise feelings and develop strategies to manage them in school. This sort of support tends to suit children who struggle with friendship dynamics, emotional regulation, or classroom readiness after disruption, and it can also support reintegration after absence.

Behaviour expectations also appear explicit. The January 2023 inspection narrative describes pupils learning clear responses to bullying, including using a “STOP” approach and telling trusted adults quickly. That clarity generally reassures parents who want to see a direct, teachable framework rather than vague statements about kindness.

Extracurricular life is structured around clubs and purposeful enrichment rather than a single flagship activity. The school publishes club timetables by term, including the provider, year groups, timings, and where relevant the cost.

Examples from the 2025 autumn term and 2026 spring term listings include:

• Young Voices for Years 4 to 6, run by staff and listed as free, which suggests a choir-style commitment where perseverance matters across weeks.

• Fencing with Shakespeare Swords, positioned as a structured club with a set weekly time and a defined course length, which can suit children who enjoy skills progression and clear milestones.

• Curious Creators, a smaller-group creative club that runs to 5pm on some dates, offering a longer session for pupils who like project-based work.

• Tag Rugby (Northampton Saints) listed for older year groups in spring 2026, which indicates links with external coaching and a more performance-focused block of sessions.

Alongside clubs, the school promotes wider childhood experiences through its “11 Before 11” promise, framed as a set of opportunities pupils will access by the time they leave at 11. The page itself is high-level, but it signals intent: breadth matters here, not only test performance.

The school day runs 8.45am to 3.15pm for all children. Lunchtimes are scheduled as 12.00pm to 1.15pm for Reception and Key Stage 1, and 12.15pm to 1.15pm for Key Stage 2.

Wraparound is a practical strength. Breakfast club runs in the morning, with breakfast available until 8.40am, and pricing set at £4.50 per morning. The after-school club, SPLASH, runs from 3.15pm to 6pm on school days, with published pricing options and reduced rates for multiple siblings attending at the same time.

For travel, Shipston-on-Stour sits on local road routes connecting surrounding towns, and rail connections for longer-distance travel are typically made via Moreton-in-Marsh.

• Competition is real, even if not extreme. With oversubscription indicated in the latest admissions dataset, families should read the oversubscription criteria carefully and avoid assuming that proximity alone secures a place.

• Wraparound costs add up. Breakfast and after-school provision are clearly priced, which is helpful, but it means families should budget realistically for regular use across a full term.

• Support needs should be discussed early. The Dovecote resource provision suggests a thoughtful inclusion pathway, but it is EHCP-led and designed around individual integration plans, so parents should seek early clarity on process, capacity, and fit for their child’s profile.

• High attainment can bring higher expectations. Strong outcomes often come with a culture of effort and focus. Many children thrive with that; a small minority may find it pressurised if they are already anxious about tests.

Shipston-on-Stour Primary School combines strong academic outcomes with a clear behavioural culture and a practical approach to family logistics. It will suit families who want a values-led school day, reliable wraparound, and a curriculum that prioritises reading and structured learning.

Best suited to children who respond well to clear expectations and steady routines, including pupils who benefit from structured pastoral support. The main barrier for some families is admissions, where priority area rules and oversubscription criteria can be decisive.