St Michael's CofE (C) First School Review 2026, Stone first school with nursery and a strong Church of England ethos

For many first schools, external headline performance data is less central than it is at Key Stage 2. In this case, the published results for this review does not include the standard KS2 measures that parents often compare across primary schools. What you can lean on instead is how the school structures learning and how it is evaluated externally.

The most recent inspection activity was an ungraded visit in January 2023, which is designed to confirm the school remains at its previous judgement, and it did so. The report content highlights curriculum work, early reading, mathematics, and foundation subjects, with a clear development point around how securely assessment is embedded for non core subjects so leaders can track learning consistently.

For parents, the implication is straightforward. If you are choosing on academic “feel”, this is a school where early reading and mathematics sit at the centre of the inspection lens, with an expectation of consistent classroom routines. If you are choosing based on hard comparative tables, you may find there is less readily comparable published data at this phase, so visits and conversations matter more.

A second indicator sits in demand rather than attainment. For Reception entry, the application data shows 60 applications for 34 offers, described as oversubscribed, which works out at roughly 1.76 applications per place offered in that entry route. That is not extreme by county wide standards, but it does indicate competition and the need to understand admissions criteria carefully.

The best signal of teaching approach in a first school is often the clarity of routines and the practicality of curriculum delivery. Here, the school publishes detailed topic letters and curriculum information that show a structured day and explicit expectations for readiness to learn.

The school day is organised so that classrooms open at 08:50, with pupils expected to be in by 09:00 for registers. In Key Stage 2, there is also a “start of day activities” routine during the registration period, which implies a calm settling task rather than a rushed start.

Curriculum breadth shows up in specific examples. In Year 3, the school references glockenspiel tuition with an external music provider, and in Year 4, recorder learning is built into the programme. That matters because specialist music at this age is often an early confidence builder, not an optional add on for a handful of pupils.

There is also evidence of deliberate thinking about homework load. A published KS2 letter frames homework for protecting family time while still building habits around reading, multiplication tables, and spellings. Families who want nightly written homework may see that as light touch, families who want boundaries and wellbeing may see it as sensible.

Early years pedagogy is described in the school’s own language as child interaction led and responsive to interests, with Christian values “woven throughout” the curriculum. The practical implication is that nursery and Reception are likely to feel like they belong to the same institution as Year 3 and Year 4, rather than being a separate childcare island.

Because the school’s upper age is Year 4, the key transition question is not GCSEs or A levels, it is where pupils move for Year 5. Staffordshire operates a mix of primary, first, and middle school patterns depending on area, so parents should confirm the relevant pathway for their address.

The admissions material references that Reception allocations are made by the local authority and that pupils join Reception in the September before their fifth birthday. The same document also notes an established induction programme for new Reception and nursery children, which can help reduce the “big jump” feeling at first entry.

For families thinking ahead, the best practical step is to map likely middle school options early and check transport and childcare logistics. FindMySchool’s Map Search is useful here, not just for distance, but to visualise which schools your routes and routines naturally support.

There are two distinct admission conversations, nursery and Reception.

Nursery entry (age 3+)

The school states it has funded nursery places available from age 3. In many governor led nursery models, places can be offered on an in year basis depending on capacity, rather than via one single annual deadline, although families should verify the exact process directly with the school because this can change with staffing and demand. The key rule for parents is to separate nursery attendance from Reception admission. Even if a child attends the nursery, Reception places are not automatically guaranteed.

Reception entry (September start)

Reception applications are made through Staffordshire’s coordinated admissions process. The council guidance for the September 2026 intake uses the national closing date of 15 January 2026 for primary and middle school places. The same admissions cycle typically opens in November and concludes with offers in April, which the council describes as being communicated in mid April for the 2026 round.

With the school oversubscribed in the entry route data, families should assume criteria matter. If you are trying to judge realistic chances, the Comparison Tool on the local hub page can help you sanity check demand patterns across nearby schools, rather than relying on anecdotes.

At this age range, wellbeing is inseparable from routines and relationships. The faith inspection gives a helpful lens, describing strong relationships, rare incidents of poor behaviour, and a community where pupils are taught to disagree respectfully and move on with fresh starts.

The school also publishes a specific wellbeing offer, including a lunchtime chill session built around stretching, breathing techniques, positive affirmations, and visualisation. That is a concrete example of an approach that recognises self regulation as a skill, not a personality trait.

Wraparound policy documentation also indicates clear safeguarding style processes for handover, collection passwords, and supervision, which is exactly the kind of operational detail parents want to see when childcare extends beyond the school day.

A first school’s extracurricular offer is most convincing when it names what actually happens, who it is for, and when it runs.

Coding club (lunchtime)

Year 1 coding club is described as using Bee Bot apps and STEM mouse robot kits, with pupils coding directions and building obstacle courses. This is a good example of “small tech” done well, tangible, age appropriate, and team based.

Adventurers after school club (church partnership)

The Adventurers club is a clear expression of the school’s Church of England identity. It is described as a church club that meets after school for pupils from Year 1 to Year 4, linking the school day to church community life. The implication for parents is that faith here is not only collective worship in school hours, it can extend into optional activities.

Choir and community engagement

A newsletter example shows the choir visiting a local community group for a VE Day related event, which indicates that performance opportunities can link to service and community presence, not only to internal concerts.

Forest school

Forest school appears both in the faith inspection evidence and in specific school communications about a Year 4 after school club cycle, which supports the idea that outdoor learning is a recurring feature rather than a one off.

Beyond named clubs, the school also references pupil responsibilities such as school council representatives, house captains, eco representatives, and UNICEF representatives. That matters because leadership at this phase tends to be about confidence and contribution, not prefect systems.

The day to day structure is clearly stated. Classrooms open at 08:50 and pupils are expected to be in by 09:00; the school day ends at 15:30. Years 1 to 4 have a morning break from 10:40 to 11:00, and lunch runs from 12:00 to 13:10.

Wraparound care is a significant practical strength. Breakfast club and after school provision operate in term time, with hours stated as 07:15 to 09:00 and 15:30 to 18:00. Fees are published for the wraparound sessions, for example a 07:30 to 09:00 session priced at £6.50 from 06 May 2025, and a 15:30 to 18:00 session priced at £10.50 from the same date.

Transport and access are inherently local for a school of this type. Families should consider walking routes and drop off constraints, especially if relying on wraparound. If you are comparing more than one option in Stone, the practical difference is often not academic, it is whether the timings and routes work with real life.

• Reception places are competitive. With more applications than offers in the entry route data, it is sensible to assume that criteria and timing matter, and that late applications can reduce options.

• Understand the first school to middle school transition early. Because pupils leave after Year 4, you are effectively choosing a pathway, not just a single institution. Confirm which middle schools are realistic for your address and routines.

• Faith is integrated, not minimal. A Church of England ethos is part of daily life, and optional clubs such as Adventurers extend that into after school activity. This suits many families, but it is worth reflecting on fit if you want a more secular feel.

• Some improvement work is structural rather than headline. The inspection development point about assessment in foundation subjects may not affect day to day teaching quality, but it can matter for how confidently leaders track learning across the wider curriculum.

St Michael's CofE (C) First School offers a coherent early years to Year 4 experience with a clear Church of England identity, practical wraparound childcare, and a curriculum that includes tangible enrichment such as coding, choir, and forest school. It suits families who want a values led environment and a structured, well signposted school day, and who are comfortable planning ahead for the move to middle school after Year 4. The main challenge is admission for Reception in an oversubscribed context, plus ensuring the wider pathway works for your household logistics.