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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 are the most concrete external performance signal available, and they are striking. In the FindMySchool GCSE rankings (based on official results), Emmaus is ranked 110th in England and 1st locally for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the top 10% of secondary schools in England, and in practice closer to the top 2 to 3% by rank position. 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 are compelling. The FindMySchool GCSE ranking places Emmaus 110th in England and 1st in the local area for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This equates to roughly the top 2 to 3% of secondary schools in England by rank position, and comfortably within the top 10% banding used for parent-friendly comparisons.
The grade profile reinforces that picture. 77.36% of entries were at grades 9 to 7, compared with an England average benchmark of 54% for grades 9 to 7. At the very top end, 64.15% of entries were grades 9 to 8. These are unusually high figures for any small school, and they indicate that high attainment is not confined to a small handful of students.
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.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
GCSE 9–7
77.36%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
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 the 2025 to 2026 schedule is explicitly stated as inclusive of VAT. Annual fees from September 2025 range from £6,388 in Reception up to £7,937 in Year 11.
The fee ladder rises gradually year-on-year, so families should plan for an increase across the journey even before any future inflationary changes. The admissions material also highlights one-off charges that can affect first-year budgeting, notably the £75 application administration fee and a £200 deposit for Reception offers.
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.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per year
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 the headline strength, with a top-tier local rank and a nationally high position in England by the FindMySchool ranking, supported by a strong top-grade profile.
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 are a major strength, with the school ranked 110th in England and 1st locally for GCSE outcomes in the FindMySchool ranking, and with a high proportion of grades at 9 to 7. 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 are inclusive of VAT. For 2025 to 2026, fees run from £6,388 in Reception to £7,937 in Year 11, with year-by-year increments.
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
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