School Chooser

Colerne CofE Primary School

Primary · ages 4-11MixedChurch of England212 pupilsChippenhamWiltshire
School Chooser Score
85
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 69 to 93, so it could be “above”
Out of 100. Better than 66% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodConfirmed by Ofsted, March 2023
Reached the expected level at 1179%England 63%
Attendance96.3%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families6%Far fewer than most schools
Places58 spare212 pupils, 270 places
Pupils per teacher20.2School workforce census

Colerne CofE Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Chippenham for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 212 pupils and room for 270. About 6 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 85 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 66% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2023.

Quarry Lane, Colerne, Chippenham, SN14 8DU01225 742367colerneschool.comMr Mark Solomon headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

A shorter visit on 14 March 2023 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

38 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1179%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level18%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score108.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score109.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 71%71%20172018: 73%73%20182019: 77%77%20192023: 67%67%20232024: 65%65%20242025: 79%79%2025
Since 2017: +8%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017WiltshireEngland
Pupils tested384030353721
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths79%65%67%77%73%71%60%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths18%8%17%29%5%29%8%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score108.0109.0107.0108.0106.0109.0105.4105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score109.0108.0110.0108.0106.0109.0103.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score107.0108.0106.0110.0109.0113.0104.3105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard84%78%77%80%81%81%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard92%73%83%89%81%95%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)84%73%73%86%86%90%
Reading progressReading progress score-0.2+0.7-2.1+1.7
Maths progressMaths progress score+3.1+0.4-1.1+1.6
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged67%50%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged81%77%71%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 3 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
67%81%
Gap 14 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
72%85%
Gap 13 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
17%18%
Gap 1 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

A few spare places238 pupils for 266 places, 2024/25
90% full

About 28 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 7% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 5.1 miles away in 2026. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 5.1 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.

EntryPlacesGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary30315.1 milesLA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll212Census January 2026
Places27079% full
Pupils from low-income families6%6% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English4%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support16%34 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%7 pupils with a plan
Average class size26.37 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)5%£15,500 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls115 / 97
White British pupils81%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (12), language and communications needs (11), emotional and mental health (10), Autistic spectrum disorder (3), Other difficulty or disability (3), Severe learning difficulty (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll212235238243255249
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals6%6%5%5%4%4%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language4%3%4%5%5%4%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support14%19%15%12%10%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans1%3%2%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.3% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance96.3%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school5.9%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.42024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.7%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence3.7%3.8%4.6%5.4%2.1%2.9%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.1%3.2%4.1%4.9%1.8%2.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.7%0.6%0.5%0.4%0.3%0.3%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence5.9%6.0%9.4%10.7%3.5%2.3%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.40.00.00.00.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers10.5full-time equivalent, 15 people
Pupils per teacher20.2Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants6.4full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£52,980
Teachers who left in the year9%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher6.92024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,195England £7,738. Total £1.5m
Income per pupil£6,167England £7,697. Total £1.4m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,369England £3,480
Money in reserve7%Not much put by: £96k, £409 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out-£6,678it spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£6,195spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m2312 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate39 per 1,000 people58% lower than the England average
Typical house price£320,000Wiltshire
Nearest bus stop60 mPrimary School, 6 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Box Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy1.8 miles144Good 201979Compare
Marshfield Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England2.5 miles125Good 202290Compare
The Corsham Regis Primary AcademyAcademy3.1 miles119Good 202213Compare
Neston Primary SchoolAcademy3.2 miles195Good 202371Compare
Batheaston Church SchoolAcademy3.3 miles181Good 202252Compare
Bathford Church SchoolAcademy3.4 miles138No overall grade 202586Compare
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, CorshamRoman Catholic3.5 miles184Good 202251Compare
Corsham Primary SchoolAcademy3.5 miles651Good 202437Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Colerne CofE Primary School with the 47 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 47 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats66%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 85 is 7 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 15 · middle 79 · highest 99100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 85 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 85% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 69 to 93. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%above
+0.21
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 38 pupils
Ofsted inspection19% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 3.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%above
+0.07
DfE progress measure; 38 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.04
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.10
2024/25; 220 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%above
+0.09
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 38 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Colerne CofE Primary School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Colerne CofE Primary School scores 85 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 66% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 69 to 93, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Colerne CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Colerne CofE Primary School good at its last full inspection on 14 March 2023.

How good are Colerne CofE Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 79% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 18% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Colerne CofE Primary School have?

212 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 270 places, so it is 79% full.

Is Colerne CofE Primary School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 5.1 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at Colerne CofE Primary School?

Pupils were in school 96.3% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 6% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Colerne CofE Primary School?

The average class had 26.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Quarry Lane, Colerne, Chippenham, SN14 8DU
Telephone
01225 742367
Website
www.colerneschool.com
Headteacher
Mr Mark Solomon
Type of school
Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 4-11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Bristol
Local authority
Wiltshire
Ward
Box & Colerne
Constituency
Melksham and Devizes
Setting
Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
126316 · LAESTAB 8653040 · UKPRN 10075445

Where these figures come from