St John's CofE Primary School

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 5 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Blakebrook, Kidderminster, DY11 6APOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St John's CofE Primary School is a primary school in Kidderminster for ages 5 to 11. It is one of the 273 schools in Worcestershire. It ranks 22nd of 23 primary schools in Kidderminster. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 11 January 2023, report published 13 February 2023

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 January 2023

Pupils are happy at St John's CofE Primary School. Leaders have set high expectations for what pupils should learn and how they should behave. This has proved successful. The school's Christian ethos plays a central role in school life. Pupils generally behave well. In lessons, pupils listen carefully to their teachers and have positive relationships with staff. At social times, pupils eat together sensibly and enjoy playing with their friends. Bullying is uncommon. The school's anti- bullying ambassadors help to spot issues so that these can be dealt with swiftly by staff. Leaders have significantly strengthened the school's curriculum. The reading and mathematics curriculum is well structured. In other subjects, leaders have set out what pupils should learn. However, there is more work to do to make this clearer and to help pupils know and remember more over time. Leaders provide a range of wider opportunities for pupils' personal development. There are several different extra-curricular activities, including a popular football club run by the town's local team, Kidderminster Harriers. More recently, several pupils have attended a Christmas crafts and cookery club. Leaders also run popular residential trips in Year 4 and Year 6.

What the school should improve

  • In some foundation subjects, leaders have not precisely identified the smaller blocks of learning that help build towards the aims of the national curriculum. This means that some pupils struggle to link their ideas together and build on what they already know. Leaders should ensure that they carefully identify what key knowledge sits beneath each curriculum end-point so that it is clear how learning builds over time.
  • Teachers do not consistently check that pupils have grasped what they are learning in some foundation subjects. This means that, in some subjects, pupils cannot use knowledge fluently and gaps in knowledge go unchecked. Leaders should ensure that teachers systematically check that pupils are secure in what they know so that gaps and misconceptions can be spotted quickly.
  • Some staff do not understand the rationale for the changes that leaders have made. This means they have a negative view of the school and feel disconnected from its journey of improvement. Leaders should continue to find ways to engage with all staff so that they collectively share leaders' vision.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

47 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths53%

53%, 9 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score102

102, 4 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score101

101, 4 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

224 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals39.3%

39.3%, 12.8 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language15.6%

15.6%, 6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support22.3%

22.3%, 7.5 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.2%

2.2%, 3.8 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near St John's CofE Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Sutton Park Primary School0.6 milesOfsted: Outstanding81% met the expected standard
Franche Primary School0.7 milesOfsted judgements: Requires improvement to good62% met the expected standard
St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School0.7 milesOfsted: Good68% met the expected standard
Foley Park Primary Academy0.8 milesOfsted: Good42% met the expected standard
St Mary's CofE (VA) Primary School1 mileOfsted judgements: Good39% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
THE SPIRE CHURCH OF ENGLAND LEARNING TRUST
Age range
5 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Suzanne Finlay
Address
Blakebrook, Kidderminster, DY11 6AP
Local authority
Worcestershire
URN
144999

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.