Swell Church of England Primary School
Lower Swell, Cotswold, GL54 1LHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Swell Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Cotswold for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 329 schools in Gloucestershire. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in January 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 13 January 2026, report published 1 March 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Strong standard
- Leadership and governance
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 13 January 2026
Pupils enjoy coming to this highly inclusive school. They describe it fondly as ‘the Swell family’. Every pupil is known as an individual and their identity is celebrated. For example, pupils choose a pebble and decorate it to represent themselves within the ‘family of the school’. Pupils learn to be reflective and thoughtful by writing down wishes or worries and placing them in the stream. Staff create warm and nurturing relationships. They listen to pupils and help them with any concerns. As a result, pupils feel safe and well cared for. Bullying is rare, and when it does occur, it is dealt with promptly and effectively. This contributes to a strong sense of belonging. Attendance falls short of national expectations because of the nature of this smaller-than-average school. However, the school’s sustained work with families is helping attendance to improve. Pupils are positive representatives of the school. The values of ‘CPR’ (compassion, peace and respect) provide clear expectations for behaviour. Pupils understand that these behaviours will support them beyond their time at Swell, and they respond well to these expectations. Pupils achieve well from their starting points. Many join the school at different times during their primary education. Staff take time to understand each pupil and any barriers to their learning. They use thoughtful strategies to reduce these barriers so that pupils can access the curriculum well. Because of the school’s small size, this is not always reflected in published outcomes. Pupils take pride in the contributions they make to their school community and beyond. This prepares them well for life in modern Britain. For example, pupils encourage others in the local community to support charitable causes, including promoting charity days on a local radio show. Following a ‘crochet craze’, pupils were supported to set up a crochet club. The school tracks participation closely to ensure that every pupil, including those who are disadvantaged, benefits from its wider offer.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should ensure that staff support pupils to develop correct letter formation so that they can write more fluently and confidently. • Leaders should ensure that teachers identify and address misconceptions in pupils’ written work so that pupils do not continue to make repeated errors.
Pupil numbers and mix
32 pupils on roll, with places for 56
Schools near Swell Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stow-on-the-Wold Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 44% met the expected standard |
| Longborough Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Report card: Expected standard | 38% met the expected standard |
| Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School | 3 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 61% met the expected standard |
| Cold Aston Church of England Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 83% met the expected standard |
| St David's Church of England Primary School | 5 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 68% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- NORTH COTSWOLD SCHOOLS FEDERATION MAT
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Alison Rawlings
- Phone
- 01451830707
- Address
- Lower Swell, Cotswold, GL54 1LH
- Local authority
- Gloucestershire
- URN
- 149256
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.