The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Last reviewed: March 2026 · Rankings and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A small roll, an all-through age range, and an explicitly values-led approach shape daily life at Emmaus School. Set in Staverton near Trowbridge, this is an independent day school for ages 4 to 16, with a published capacity of 75 pupils.
Academic results at GCSE need careful interpretation because the current KS4 cohort is very small. In the current data, Emmaus has 8 KS4 pupils and an Attainment 8 score of 30, with no current FindMySchool GCSE rank shown. The school’s own documentation emphasises small teaching groups, a calm working culture, and a structured school day that begins at 8:35am and ends at 3:00pm.
Scale is the defining feature. With pupil numbers around 59 and a capacity of 75, relationships tend to be close and routines are easier to keep consistent. The school describes its culture as purposeful and quiet, with pupils working independently in small classes. That design choice matters because it signals a preference for focus and individual attention over the bustle and breadth of a larger setting.
The Christian ethos is not peripheral. The school day includes daily worship with Bible teaching and singing, and admissions are framed around families being willing to support that ethos. For some families, that clarity is a strength because expectations are transparent. For others, it is a decisive factor to weigh carefully, because values education is integrated into curriculum and pastoral life rather than treated as a separate strand.
Place and setting also contribute to the tone. The prospectus describes the school occupying an 1880 National School building, with later additions including a 2008 classroom extension, and an outdoor environment that includes a hard-surface playground plus access to nearby playing fields and a tennis court. It also references gardening space where pupils grow vegetables and flowers, and a younger-pupil outdoor area with a mud kitchen and sand and water play facilities.
At GCSE, the available performance indicators should be read cautiously. The current dataset shows 8 KS4 pupils and an Attainment 8 score of 30, with no current FindMySchool GCSE rank shown. For a school this small, families should look beyond a single exam-year headline and ask how consistent outcomes are across cohorts.
The current grade profile is not strong enough to support the previous top-grade wording. For families, the safer reading is that GCSE outcomes should be checked directly with the school and interpreted alongside cohort size, subject entry patterns and pupil starting points.
A sensible way to use this data is comparative rather than absolute. Parents weighing local options can use the FindMySchool local hub and comparison tools to set these outcomes alongside nearby schools serving similar age ranges, then probe how the school achieves them in practice during visits and taster days.
The curriculum is presented as explicitly structured and deliberately traditional in the early years and primary phase, with reading positioned as the key lever for access to the wider curriculum. Alongside core literacy and numeracy, the prospectus references a balance between classroom learning and learning-by-doing for younger pupils, plus an early start in French and a planned approach to handwriting and spelling.
From Year 7 onwards, the programme broadens to include ICT, Computer Science and Food Technology, alongside modern foreign languages. For GCSE, the prospectus sets out a typical core of English language, English literature, Mathematics, French, and one science, then a choice from additional subjects such as separate sciences, humanities, Religious Studies, Art, Physical Education, Music, and Computer Science. The implication is a curriculum that aims to remain academically anchored while still offering practical and creative options.
Assessment and tracking are described in fairly concrete terms. The prospectus notes standardised annual tests in reading and spelling, and use of Cognitive Abilities Tests (GL Assessment) from Year 4, with a stated emphasis on teaching the curriculum rather than teaching narrowly to tests. For parents, the relevant question is how these data are turned into action, for example targeted support, extension, or changes to grouping, and the small-school context can make that feedback loop faster when used well.
Emmaus is an all-through school to age 16 and does not have a sixth form, so post-16 progression is a key planning point for families. The prospectus indicates that the secondary phase is intended to prepare pupils for continuing study at local sixth forms after Year 11, and it also references careers guidance and work experience for Years 10 and 11.
Admissions are handled directly by the school rather than through local authority coordinated allocations, and the process is intentionally personal. The prospectus sets out a pathway that begins with completing an application form for each child and paying a non-refundable administration fee of £75 for the first application and £25 for each subsequent child. References may be sought from a current headteacher or referee, and from a church leader or other professional referee.
For pupils applying outside Reception, the school may request recent work or a report. The process includes a taster day with diagnostic tests, followed by a decision by the headteacher on whether to offer a place. That structure has a clear implication: fit matters, and admissions are not only about academic ability, but also about readiness for the school’s expectations and ethos.
For Reception, the prospectus indicates entry can be in September or January, whichever is nearest to a child’s fifth birthday, and notes that a £200 deposit towards the first term’s fees is due by the start of the summer term ahead of a September start. It also references a new entrants day, typically in the latter half of the summer term.
Parents considering Emmaus should treat published dates as indicative patterns unless a current-year calendar is provided, and check directly for the latest visit slots and entry deadlines. If competition for places is material in a given year group, using a shortlist tool, such as Saved Schools, can help families keep track of application stages and decisions across multiple options.
The school positions its pastoral approach around small classes, a calm working environment, and a values framework that is meant to reduce negative peer pressure and support confidence and independence. In practice, the most meaningful pastoral questions for parents will be operational, such as how concerns are escalated, how wellbeing is monitored day-to-day, and what support exists for pupils with additional needs.
An external check on core compliance is reassuring here. According to the ISI progress monitoring inspection carried out on 11 October 2024, the school met the relevant Independent School Standards, including around safeguarding information and leadership oversight.
Extracurricular life appears to be structured around clubs, performances, and enrichment that fits the small-school context. The prospectus lists after-school clubs including Sports Club, Crafts Club, Choir and Drama, plus opportunities to perform in singing, drama, and music ensembles. It also notes that private music lessons are available during the school day.
There is also a clear service and leadership thread. Pupils run the School Council themselves and are involved in fundraising and charitable ventures. Educational visits are used to support the curriculum, including museums, galleries, science lectures and the theatre, alongside field trips and residential trips. The school also describes links with a small Christian school in France, which adds a distinctive international dimension without requiring a large-scale exchange programme.
A useful additional indicator of enrichment is the way external organisations are brought in. The school’s published photo updates include a first-aid and emergency awareness session delivered by Wiltshire Air Ambulance, which is a practical, real-world enrichment example that suits mixed-age groups.
Fees are published as annual day fees, and families should check the current schedule directly with the school, including whether quoted amounts are inclusive of VAT and how fees vary by year group.
The fee ladder may rise gradually year-on-year, so families should plan for increases across the journey and check current one-off charges, including any application administration fee or deposit, before applying.
The school’s published materials referenced here do not set out bursary percentages or scholarship values in a way that can be stated precisely. Parents who may need support should ask directly what is available, the criteria used, and how awards interact with annual fee changes.
Fees shown include VAT.
The school day runs from 8:35am to 3:00pm, with pupils admitted from 8:30am. The published materials reviewed do not set out a breakfast club or after-school care provision in a way that can be confirmed, so families who need wraparound care should ask directly about start-of-day supervision, end-of-day clubs, and holiday coverage.
For transport, the prospectus references local walking access to nearby countryside footpaths and the canal for nature walks, plus use of nearby playing fields for physical education. In practice, most families will want to check drop-off logistics and parking expectations during a visit, given the village-lane setting.
Christian ethos is central. Daily worship and a Bible-based framing of teaching are part of the routine, and admissions are positioned around families supporting that approach. This will suit some families strongly and be a mismatch for others.
Very small scale. With pupil numbers around the high double digits and a capacity of 75, the experience can feel personal and consistent, but it may offer less social breadth than a larger school.
No sixth form. Planning for post-16 is essential, and families should discuss likely local sixth-form routes early rather than waiting until Year 11.
Facilities are partly in development. The prospectus references planned additions such as an ICT suite, library and additional classrooms; parents should confirm what is already in place for the year group they are considering.
Emmaus School offers a very specific proposition: an all-through education to 16 built around small classes, a calm learning culture, and a clearly stated Christian ethos. GCSE outcomes are difficult to judge from the current data because the KS4 cohort is very small, so families should ask about multi-year outcomes, subject entries and how the school supports pupils through exam choices.
Best suited to families who actively want a small, values-led setting, and who are comfortable planning a post-16 transition to local sixth forms or colleges. For most families, the key decision is fit, both educational and philosophical, rather than facilities scale.
On the evidence available, GCSE outcomes need cautious interpretation because the current KS4 cohort is very small. The school has 8 KS4 pupils in the current data and no current FindMySchool GCSE rank shown. The school is also small, which can support individual attention. Families should still test fit carefully, because ethos and scale shape daily life.
Fees are published as annual day fees, and families should check the current schedule directly with the school, including VAT treatment, year-by-year increments and any one-off charges.
Admissions are made directly to the school. The published process includes an application form and references, and for many applicants a taster day with diagnostic testing. Reception entry may be offered for September or January, aligned to a child’s fifth birthday.
No. Students normally move on after Year 11, so families should plan early for local sixth forms or colleges and confirm which routes are typical for recent leavers.
The day starts at 8:35am and ends at 3:00pm, with entry from 8:30am. Daily worship is part of the routine. If you need breakfast club or after-school care, you will need to confirm current availability directly because it is not set out clearly in the published materials reviewed.
Get in touch with the school directly
Is this your school?
Claim this profile to update contact info, add photos, and more.
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
