St Mary's Broughton Gifford Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School
Melksham, SN12 8PR · Wiltshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
16th of 181 primary schools in Wiltshire we can score, 201 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 9.0/10 against 4,240 of them, against 8.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 86.0 · 95 | 40% | 3.78 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 14.0 · 81 | 25% | 2.03 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Mary's Broughton Gifford Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 86.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 14.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (9.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2023.
Getting in
The published school roll is 61 pupils against a stated capacity of 105. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils in reaching the higher standard in core subjects? What does a typical day look like for a child in terms of structured learning and play? How does the voluntary controlled status influence the daily curriculum and ethos?
What Ofsted said about St Mary's Broughton Gifford Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School
Overview
St Mary’s is described as a “welcoming village primary school” where pupils feel safe and view the community as a “big family.” The report highlights a “well-designed and considered curriculum” that builds on prior knowledge, particularly in mathematics, alongside strong personal development rooted in the school’s Christian ethos.
Strengths
- Pupils display “positive attitudes to learning,” are “polite and kind,” and bullying is reported as “rare.”
- There is an “effective, systematic and consistent approach to teaching phonics,” with teachers checking progress to ensure pupils keep up.
- The curriculum in core subjects ensures pupils “build on what they already know,” using assessment to adapt future learning.
- Leaders provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they access the same curriculum as their peers.
- Staff workload and well-being are considered, and governors provide “appropriate support and challenge.”
Areas to improve
- Leaders must evaluate wider curriculum subjects to identify “gaps in knowledge” and ensure implementation matches the curriculum’s ambition, particularly in art.
- Leaders need to ensure early readers have books that “precisely match the sounds they know” to develop fluency, as some current texts are too difficult.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with adults being “well trained and vigilant” and a strong culture that “it could happen here.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 50% |
| 2023/24 | 54% |
| 2024/25 | 86% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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