Smallwood CofE Primary School
School Lane, Sandbach, CW11 2UROpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Smallwood CofE Primary School is a primary school in Sandbach for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 175 schools in Cheshire East. It ranks 7th of 8 primary schools in Sandbach. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 March 2019, report published 4 April 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 2 July 2024
Pupils appreciate the warm and nurturing relationships that they enjoy with staff and with each other at this small and happy school. Many pupils, who shared their views with the inspector, described their school as a family where everyone is welcome. Pupils value the close links that the school enjoys with the local village. For example, they look forward to the opportunity to be crowned 'Rose King' or 'Queen', where they lead a procession from the school around the village. The school has high ambitions for pupils' learning. It expects them to work hard and to do their best. Most pupils rise to meet the school's expectations. They eagerly look forward to their lessons each day. Overall, pupils achieve well through the curriculum. Pupils proudly follow the school's rules to be kind and safe. Older pupils enjoy working as buddies, where they help the children in the Reception class to settle into school life well and quickly make new friends. Pupils participate in a variety of educational experiences to enhance their learning beyond the classroom. For example, they have enjoyed trips to a museum and an art gallery. Pupils also spoke fondly about residential visits. Pupils enjoy singing in the school choir and learning to play different musical instruments.
What the school should improve
- Some teachers do not address weaknesses in some pupils' written communication skills and lack of fluency with number well enough. This means that some pupils do not have sufficient fluency in these fundamental skills. The school should ensure that these weaknesses are quickly addressed so that pupils have the necessary foundations to support them with more complex learning.
- The improvements to the delivery of a small number of curriculums are relatively new. This means that sometimes pupils find it difficult to link earlier learning with new content. The school should ensure that the recent changes to the curriculum have the desired impact so that pupils know more and remember more in the longer term.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
23 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
178 pupils on roll, with places for 140
Schools near Smallwood CofE Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rode Heath Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 84% met the expected standard |
| St John's CofE Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Inadequate | Not published |
| Scholar Green Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| Pikemere School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 77% met the expected standard |
| Astbury St Mary's CofE Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 15% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE SMALLWOOD ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Iestyn Lewis
- Phone
- 01477500362
- Address
- School Lane, Sandbach, CW11 2UR
- Local authority
- Cheshire East
- URN
- 140894
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.