St Mary and St Chad CofE First School

“Aim High Believe, Fly High Achieve” is more than a strapline here; it is also the stated school vision in the most recent SIAMS inspection. The school serves children from age 2 to 9 (nursery through Year 4), in the heart of Brewood, with most pupils moving on to Brewood Middle School in Year 5.

Parents choosing a first school are usually thinking in sequences rather than single institutions. This one sits in a clear three tier context (first to middle to high), and the school openly frames its work as preparation for that next step. That gives the review a slightly different focus than a typical primary. There is no Key Stage 2 SATs endpoint at Year 6 because pupils leave at Year 4, so the strongest evidence tends to come through curriculum detail, inspection findings, transition practice, and how the nursery and early years provision sets children up for formal learning.

The latest Ofsted inspection (26 to 27 September 2023) confirmed the school continues to be Good and reported that safeguarding arrangements are effective. Leadership is long established, with Mrs Sandra Lamond named as headteacher and also listed as Designated Safeguarding Lead on the school website.

The school presents itself as a values led Church of England community, with daily collective worship positioned as a central rhythm in school life. The published worship schedule includes weekly whole school worship led by a member of the parish church, celebration worship led by the headteacher, and class worship. That level of specificity matters for families weighing a faith school, it indicates faith is integrated into routines rather than limited to occasional services.

A distinctive element is how the school describes “Prayer Spaces”, structured reflection zones created each term around themes like hope, thankfulness, courage, friendship, and peace, with opportunities for parents and carers to participate. For some families, that approach will feel grounded and emotionally supportive. For others, it is a reminder to check fit, particularly if you prefer a more secular daily experience.

The most recent SIAMS inspection (inspection date 14 September 2023) frames the school’s culture through relationships and Christian values, and highlights leadership, collective worship, and opportunities for spiritual reflection as strengths. It also identifies areas to develop, including strengthening staff confidence in teaching the RE syllabus and further developing physical spiritual spaces for self directed reflection.

From an operational perspective, the school day routines communicated to families are clear and practical. Multiple school pages reference an 8:55 start with doors opening at 8:45, and 3:15 dismissal for at least some classes, which supports the impression of a structured, predictable daily pattern.

Because pupils typically leave after Year 4, this is not a school where the usual Year 6 data points dominate the picture. You are not selecting on KS2 tables, you are selecting on how well early reading, maths foundations, curriculum sequencing, and pastoral support combine to send children into Year 5 ready to thrive.

The strongest external evidence comes from the latest Ofsted inspection report, which stated that pupils achieve well and described a broad range of learning opportunities, alongside positive attitudes and good behaviour. Ofsted’s inspection activity included subject “deep dives” in early reading, mathematics, art and history, plus listening to pupils read in Years 1 to 3, which is relevant to parents who want confirmation that phonics and early reading are being taken seriously.

It is also worth understanding the school’s improvement edge. Ofsted’s “what does it need to do better” section includes a point about teachers not always adapting the curriculum precisely enough to meet pupils’ needs. That is not unusual in a small school, but it is a meaningful flag for families with a child who learns atypically or needs consistent scaffolding.

Curriculum intent and sequencing show up repeatedly across the school’s public materials. As an example, the French page references use of Language Ladders assessment and explicitly notes that these assessments are passed on to Brewood Middle School to support next steps in language learning. That is exactly the kind of “first school thinking ahead” practice parents should look for in a three tier system, because continuity is often the hidden differentiator at the Year 5 transfer point.

In early years, the nursery framing is learning through play, close partnership with parents, and a clear age range for Hummingbirds Nursery (2 to 4). The school also links early years guidance resources for families, which is a useful indicator of parent partnership in the early phase.

The school is part of Penk Valley Academy Trust, with Ofsted noting it joined the trust in August 2019. For parents, the practical implication is that some curriculum and staff development support may be shared across the trust, while the local governing committee still provides school level oversight.

This is one of the clearest parts of the school’s story. The school states it has close links with Brewood Middle School and that most children move there in Year 5. Brewood Middle CofE Academy is a 9 to 13 setting, so it matches the expected pathway from a first school ending at Year 4.

For families, the implication is simple: you are effectively choosing the first phase of a broader Brewood route. That can be a positive, especially if you want a coherent local Church of England progression and a clear transition point. It is also a reason to look at Brewood Middle School early, because “fit” at Year 5 matters at least as much as fit at age 4.

The published admissions information is unusually explicit for a state school website, which is helpful. For Reception entry in September 2027, applications are coordinated by Staffordshire County Council, with an application deadline of 15 January 2027 and offers due on 16 April 2027. Staffordshire County Council’s admissions hub also covers primary, infant, first and middle school places.

For the most recent recorded cycle there were 55 applications and 29 offers, with an oversubscription ratio of 1.9 applications per place. First preference demand also exceeds offers (proportion 1.11). )

Parents considering application should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to sanity check practical travel time and everyday logistics, particularly because village traffic patterns and walking routes can change the lived experience of “nearby”.

Safeguarding structure is explicit on the website: Mrs Sandra Lamond is listed as Designated Safeguarding Lead and Mrs Victoria Lloyd as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. The school also states it is an Operation Encompass school, receiving notifications from Staffordshire Police following domestic abuse incidents so it can support affected children.

From an external standpoint, Ofsted reported that safeguarding arrangements are effective at the most recent inspection. That matters because, for younger children in particular, safeguarding culture and day to day vigilance often matter more to parents than any single academic statistic.

For families with SEND questions, the school lists a SENDCo in its staff directory (Mrs Jackman) and positions SEND within its key information area. The detail you will want to confirm directly is how support is delivered in mixed age classes, and how the school responds when pupils need the curriculum adaptation Ofsted noted is not always as precise as it should be.

This is a clear strength, and unusually well evidenced. Ofsted noted that most pupils take part in after school clubs and referenced EKO as a reported favourite because pupils learn outdoors. The school’s own clubs index lists a wide range including Tech Tigers, EKO Forest School Club, football, rugby, dance, tennis, drama, girls football, choir, and Relax Kids.

Two examples that help parents picture what “clubs” actually means in practice:

• EKO Forest School Club is positioned as outdoor learning for older pupils (Year 2 to Year 4), with a defined after school slot. The implication is that outdoor learning is not just a one off enrichment day, it is built into weekly provision for some pupils.

• Tech Tigers is framed as hands on STEM work, including coding, robotics, and digital art and animation. For pupils who respond well to practical problem solving, this kind of club can be a genuine confidence builder, particularly at ages where technology literacy is increasingly part of later schooling.

Sport is also visible in the club mix and in how the school links physical wellbeing with mental wellbeing in its Sports Premium commentary, tying activity to broader wellbeing goals.

The school day is described on school pages as starting at 8:55, with doors opening at 8:45, and dismissal at 3:15 for at least some classes. Families should check year group specific routines once offered a place, but the published information suggests a consistent day structure.

Wraparound provision is a meaningful practical advantage. The school offers on site before school care (Larks) and after school care (Owls) for children aged 3 to 9, led by Mrs Amanda Lockley. The published hours include morning care from 7:45 and afternoon care options extending to 6:00pm, with published session prices on the same page.

For day to day costs, the school publishes a hot lunch price for Year 3 and Year 4 pupils of £2.75 per day from September 2024. (Universal infant free school meals apply to Reception through Year 2 nationally, subject to eligibility rules and local arrangements.)

Transport wise, the school references gates and entry points relative to Brewood Middle School, which reinforces the practical proximity of the Year 5 destination setting. For parents driving, it is still worth checking drop off pinch points in advance because village centres can be sensitive to small volumes of traffic.

• Competition for Reception places. The figures indicate 55 applications for 29 offers for the primary entry route, with an oversubscription ratio of 1.9 applications per place. If you are new to Staffordshire admissions, start early and get your evidence and preferences right.

• Curriculum adaptation is an improvement priority. Ofsted flagged that teachers do not always adapt the curriculum precisely enough to meet pupils’ needs. Families with a child who needs carefully tailored scaffolding should ask direct questions about classroom practice and how support plans are monitored.

• Faith is part of the daily experience. Daily collective worship and a Church of England ethos are central, and the school runs Prayer Spaces and worship councils as part of its spiritual life. This will suit many families, but it is not a “light touch” faith identity.

• The first school decision is also a pathway decision. Most children are expected to move to Brewood Middle School in Year 5, so you should assess both settings together when shortlisting.

A well structured Church of England first school with clear routines, a strong wraparound offer, and a notably specific enrichment programme for young pupils. The combination of outdoor learning (EKO), structured clubs, and a defined Year 5 pathway will suit families who want a coherent early years to middle school journey in Brewood.

Best suited to families who value Christian ethos in daily school life, want a clear Year 5 transition route, and appreciate on site wraparound care. Admission is the practical hurdle rather than what follows, given the oversubscribed demand picture.