Pillowell Community Primary School
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Pillowell Community Primary School is a council school in Lydney for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 73 pupils and room for 84. About 16 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 21 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 15% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was requires improvement, back in 2023.
School Road, Pillowell, Lydney, GL15 4QT01594 562244bpwfederation.co.ukMrs Kirsty Evans interim exec headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 10 October 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Requires improvement overall.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
9 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 9 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 13 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 44% | 43% | 71% | 57% | 64% | 69% | 62% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 0% | 7% | 0% | 8% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 104.0 | 102.0 | 108.0 | 104.0 | 103.0 | 105.0 | 106.3 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 103.0 | 102.0 | 107.0 | 102.0 | 101.0 | 102.0 | 104.4 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 105.0 | 100.0 | 107.0 | 101.0 | 103.0 | 106.0 | 105.3 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 78% | 57% | 79% | 64% | 91% | 85% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 67% | 57% | 86% | 79% | 64% | 69% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 67% | 71% | 79% | 86% | 82% | 77% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +1.8 | +0.4 | -2.0 | +1.1 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +2.6 | -0.9 | -3.5 | -1.9 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | – | 50% | – | – | – | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | 88% | – | – | – | – | – |
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.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
About 12 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 17% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.
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. Every child who applied got a place (11 offers for 12 places).
| Entry | Places | Put it first | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 12 | 11 | 27 | 11 | – all offered | LA |
| 2025 Primary | 12 | 13 | 30 | 12 | 1.5 miles | LA |
| 2024 Primary | 12 | 10 | 21 | 11 | – all offered | LA |
| 2023 Primary | 12 | 7 | 28 | 9 | – all offered | LA |
| 2022 Primary | 12 | 12 | 27 | 12 | – all offered | LA |
What a home within 1.5 miles of the school costs
Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.
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.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (9), language and communications needs (8), emotional and mental health (6), Specific learning difficulty (1), Vision impairment (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 73 | 74 | 82 | 89 | 82 | 79 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 16% | 18% | 9% | 11% | 11% | 13% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 22% | 24% | 19% | 20% | 19% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 7% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 4.6% | 4.9% | 5.1% | 6.0% | 5.8% | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 3.9% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.5% | 1.1% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 6.4% | 9.2% | 14.7% | 13.4% | 12.9% | 13.3% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 8.1 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
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.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkley Primary School | Council | 0.7 miles | 177 | Good 2022 | 51 | Compare |
| Parkend Primary School | Council | 1.0 miles | 68 | Good 2024 | 35 | Compare |
| Bream Church of England Primary School | Academy | 1.3 miles | 186 | Good 2023 | 16 | Compare |
| Primrose Hill Church of England Primary Academy | Academy | 1.5 miles | 211 | Report card 2025 | 87 | Compare |
| Lydney Church of England Community School | Academy | 2.0 miles | 199 | Good 2023 | 54 | Compare |
| Severnbanks Primary School | Academy | 2.3 miles | 251 | Report card 2026 | 71 | Compare |
| Ellwood Primary School | Council | 2.5 miles | 139 | Good 2023 | 42 | Compare |
| Blakeney Primary School | Council | 2.7 miles | 75 | Requires improvement 2024 | 3 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Pillowell Community Primary School with the 48 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 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 21 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 21% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 7 to 53. 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 at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | -0.04 | 2024 and 2023 results; 14 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | well below | -0.57 | Ofsted grade, 2.9 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | above | +0.08 | DfE progress measure; 14 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well above | +0.11 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.05 | 2024/25; 63 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | in line | -0.03 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 14 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | 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 Pillowell Community Primary School a good school?
The figures are weak. Pillowell Community Primary School scores 21 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 15% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 7 to 53, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.
What is Pillowell Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Pillowell Community Primary School requires improvement at its last full inspection on 10 October 2023.
How good are Pillowell Community Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 44% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 0% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Pillowell Community Primary School have?
73 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 84 places, so it is 87% full.
Is Pillowell Community Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 12 places were empty in 2024/25 (14% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Pillowell Community Primary School?
Pupils were in school 95.4% 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 Pillowell Community Primary School?
The average class had 22.0 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
- School Road, Pillowell, Lydney, GL15 4QT
- Telephone
- 01594 562244
- Website
- www.bpwfederation.co.uk
- Interim Exec Headteacher
- Mrs Kirsty Evans
- Type of school
- Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Local authority
- Gloucestershire
- Ward
- Pillowell
- Constituency
- Forest of Dean
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- URN
- 115554 · LAESTAB 9162109 · UKPRN 10080671
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Admissions outcomes: Gloucestershire council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
- House prices: HM Land Registry price paid data, December 2023 to December 2025, placed by postcode.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.