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Michaelchurch Escley Primary School logo

Michaelchurch Escley Primary School

  • Ofsted: Good · Jun 2016
  • Ages 4 to 11
  • Hereford HR2
  • 63 pupils

In short: a growing primary school with a nursery, in a better-off part of the area. Ofsted rated it Good, but that was in 2016. Recent results and attendance are above average.

Young children sitting together at a classroom table
A red-brick school building under a blue sky

Good to know

  • Good in all 5 areas at its last graded inspection.
  • Results above average. 80% met the standard. England: 62%.
  • Good attendance. 8% of children are often absent. Herefordshire: 10%.

Worth checking

  • Old grade. The Good rating is from 2016, before Covid.
Check my chances
  • OfstedGoodJun 2016, 10 years ago
  • Met the standard at 1180%Herefordshire 63% · England 62%
  • Reception, 20269 of 9first choices got a place
  • Free school meals6%Herefordshire 18%
  • Pupils63Room for 56, so it's full
  • Days missed5.3%About 10 days a year
Then and now

Good in 2016. What's changed since?

Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in 2014. 2 years later it was Good. Since then it has had a shorter, ungraded visit, so there's no new grade.

Every Ofsted visit

Ofsted inspects every state school every few years. Choose a year to see what they found.

Requires improvement at 2 inspections in a row before Good in 2016.

What Ofsted found in June 2016

  • SafeguardingEffective
  • Personal developmentGood
  • LeadershipGood
  • Quality of teachingGood
  • Results for pupilsGood
  • Early yearsGood
Read the 2016 report on Ofsted

Earlier visits

The four grades, in plain English

Outstanding
Much better than the minimum.
Good
Meets every standard well.
Requires improvement
Not yet good. Ofsted will be back soon.
Inadequate
Serious problems that must be fixed.
Results

How children do by age 11

At the end of Year 6, children take national tests (called SATs) in reading, writing and maths. Latest results: summer 2025.

8 in 10 children met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths

Expected standard means a child is ready for secondary school work in all three subjects. 2025 tests.

80 out of every 100 Year 6 children
Michaelchurch Escley80%
Herefordshire63%
England62%

10 pupils took these tests in 2025, so one child is about 10 percentage points.

Against 3,155 primary schools with a similar share of children on free school meals (1% to 11%), it's ahead of about 83% on the expected standard over recent years.

A girl reading a book on library stairs

Test scores, 2025

100 means the child met the standard. The highest possible is 120.

Reading109
England106
Maths105
England105

Grammar and spelling: 80% met the standard (England 73%).

Every result, year by yearEach England row is the figure for the same year.
2025202420232022202120202019
Pupils tested10911–––7
Met the expected standard80%78%82%–––43%
England62%61%60%65%
Higher standard10%0%18%–––0%
England8%8%8%11%
Reading score109107108–––106
England106105105104
Maths score105103106–––104
England105104104105
Grammar and spelling80%89%82%–––71%
England73%72%72%78%
Disadvantaged pupils112–––0
Reading progress––+0.3––––
Writing progress––+0.2––––
Maths progress––0––––

The expected standard is the level the government expects at the end of Year 6, in reading, writing and maths together. The higher standard is well above it. Scores run from 80 to 120, and 100 meets the expected standard.

Disadvantaged pupils are those on free school meals in the last 6 years, or in care. Each group's England row is the same group across England. Small groups swing a lot from year to year, and a dash means DfE published no figure, often to protect small groups.

Progress compares children with others who started from the same point, and 0 is average. There are no scores after 2023, because the Year 2 tests they're measured from were cancelled in Covid.

Source: DfE, Find school and college performance data.

There were no national tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid. Tests came back in 2022, but DfE didn't publish school results for that year.

Michaelchurch Escley among primary schools in Herefordshire

Each dot is one school, placed by the share of children meeting the expected standard.

Herefordshire 63%England 62%0%25%50%75%100%The Steiner Academy Hereford: 4%Withington Primary School: 21%Bridstow CofE Primary School: 22%Peterchurch Primary School: 29%St Mary's CofE Primary School: 31%Broadlands Primary School: 38%Lea CofE Primary School: 38%Almeley Primary School: 44%Gorsley Goffs Primary School: 44%Colwall CofE Primary School and Nursery: 45%Cradley CofE Primary School: 47%Kington Primary School: 50%Shobdon Primary School: 50%Leintwardine Endowed CE Primary School: 50%Canon Pyon CofE Academy: 50%Lord Scudamore Primary Academy: 53%Whitchurch CofE Primary School: 55%Leominster Primary School: 55%Ewyas Harold Primary School: 56%Garway Primary School: 56%Staunton-on-Wye Endowed Primary School: 56%Riverside Primary School: 58%St Mary's CofE Primary School: 59%Our Lady's RC Primary School: 60%Ashperton Primary Academy: 60%Burghill Community Academy: 60%Mordiford CofE Primary School: 60%Pembridge CofE Primary School: 60%Brampton Abbotts CofE Primary School: 61%Trinity Primary School: 62%St Paul's CofE Primary School: 63%Marden Primary Academy: 63%Wellington Primary School and Nursery: 63%Ledbury Primary School: 64%Clehonger CofE Primary School: 64%Much Birch CofE Primary School: 64%Sutton Primary Academy: 64%Llangrove CE Academy: 64%Lugwardine Primary Academy: 65%Ashfield Park Primary School: 67%Burley Gate CofE Primary School: 67%Much Marcle CofE Primary School: 67%Brockhampton Primary School: 68%Ivington CofE Primary and Pre-School: 69%St James' Church of England Primary School: 69%Orleton CofE Primary School: 70%Hampton Dene Primary School: 71%Bosbury CofE Primary School: 71%St Joseph's RC Primary School and Nursery: 71%Weston-under-Penyard CofE Primary School: 71%Weobley Primary School: 72%Luston Primary School: 73%Stretton Sugwas CofE Academy: 73%Holmer CofE Academy: 75%Goodrich CofE Primary School: 75%Marlbrook Primary School: 75%Kingsland CofE School: 76%Kingstone and Thruxton Primary School: 77%Eastnor Parochial Primary School: 77%St Peter's Primary School: 77%St Michael's CofE Primary School: 78%Bredenbury Primary School: 78%Eardisley CofE Primary School: 79%Madley Primary School: 80%Stoke Prior Primary School: 80%Michaelchurch Escley: 80%St Francis Xavier's Primary School: 81%Pencombe CofE Primary School: 82%St Thomas Cantilupe CofE Academy: 82%Walford Nursery & Primary School: 84%Wigmore Primary School: 87%Little Dewchurch CofE Primary School: 89%St Martin's Primary School: 89%Clifford Primary School: 94%Longtown Community Primary School: 100%Kimbolton St James CofE Primary School: 100%St Mary's Primary School, Dilwyn: 100%Michaelchurch Escley 80%
Michaelchurch Escley is higher than 63 of 76 other Herefordshire state primary schools in 2025.
Getting in

Could your child get a place?

In 2026 every family who put Michaelchurch Escley first got a place.

13 families applied and 9 were offered Reception places

Families list several schools, so this counts every family who listed it, not only those who put it first. 9 families put it first, and all of them got a place.

● 9 places: each figure is about 10

Over the last 3 rounds, 25 of 25 families who put it first got a place (100%). Room for 56 suggests about 8 places a year. The exact number is in the school's admissions policy.

Demand has grown a little in 12 years

Applications each year. The black line is how many places were offered. Places grew too, from 5 to 9.

ApplicationsPlaces offered

Who gets a place first

When there are more children than places, most schools give places in an order like this. Check the school's own policy.

  1. 1Children in care, or who used to be
  2. 2Children with a brother or sister already at the school
  3. 3Everyone else, closest first

Good to know: a place in the nursery doesn't guarantee a Reception place. You still need to apply.

How close do you need to live? Ask the council for Herefordshire for the last distance offered. Many councils publish it each year, but there's no national file, so we don't hold it.

If you don't get a place: you can appeal. In Herefordshire, 4 of the 9 appeals heard for places from September 2025 succeeded. Across England, 15% did.

A parent walking two children along the pavement
Three children with backpacks crossing a street

Applying for September 2027

These dates are for the next round. The figures above are for children who started in September 2026.

  • Now

    Open days run in the autumn. Ask the school for dates.

  • 15 Jan 2027

    Deadline to apply to the council for Herefordshire.

  • 16 Apr 2027

    Offers day. You'll hear from the council.

  • Sep 2027

    Your child starts Reception.

Applications and offers, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Applications13131011920969781010
First choices98874113255455
Offers made98874103256455
Offers to first choices98874103255455
First choices who got a place100%100%100%100%100%91%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%
England92%93%93%93%92%92%90%91%91%90%88%88%88%

Each year is the September children started. A first choice is a family who put the school first on their form. Offers are those made on national offer day, so later moves aren't counted. They can differ from the school's full number of places, which is in its admissions policy.

Source: DfE, Applications and offers.

Day to day

Life at Michaelchurch Escley

The average child misses about 10 days a year

That's 5.3% of the school year, for any reason including illness. And 1 in 13 children (8%) missed at least 1 day in 10, which counts as persistently absent. Herefordshire: 10%. England, primary schools: about 13%.

In schoolMissed

No pupils were suspended in 2024/25

Across England, similar schools: 1.1%. No permanent exclusions.

Nursery classFrom age 3.

Before and after schoolWe don't hold club times. Ask the school.

Pupils

Who goes to Michaelchurch Escley

A growing school: 54 pupils in 2018, 63 now.

Year 6, in darker blue, is the year group that sits the tests at 11.
Children in front of a bookshelf

Ethnic background

89% White British · 8% White Other · 3% Mixed Other

  • 6.3%

    Free school meals

    Children from lower-income families. The school gets extra money to support them.

    Herefordshire18.3%

  • 0%

    English as an additional language

    Children who speak another language at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English.

    Herefordshire13.1%

  • 14.3%

    Special educational needs

    Children with special educational needs, with or without an EHC plan.

    Main needs recorded (pupils)

    • Speech, language and communication1
    • Autism1
    • Social, emotional and mental health1

    Herefordshire20.1%

  • 0%

    EHC plan

    Children with a legal plan for more complex needs (an Education, Health and Care plan).

Pupils and attendance, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014
Pupils on roll636054626559–5854––––
Days missed–5.3%5.4%5.7%8.1%3.1%–4.5%4.8%4.2%4%3.3%3.9%
England5.2%5.5%5.9%6.3%3.7%4%4.2%4%4%4%3.9%
Often absent–7.8%14.3%11.5%25.9%5.3%–7.1%13%6.5%7.5%2.9%5.1%
England13%14.5%16.2%17.7%8.8%8.2%8.7%8.3%8.2%8.4%8%

Each year is the school year ending that summer, so 2025 means 2024-25. Days missed is the share of school sessions missed for any reason. Often absent is the share of pupils missing at least 1 day in 10.

Source: DfE, school census and pupil absence.

Attendance for 2026 isn't published yet.

2021 attendance was shaped by Covid, so read it with care.

There are no 2020 figures: Covid stopped the attendance count, and we don't hold that year's pupil numbers.

Our pupil numbers start in 2018.

Open day

What to ask when you visit

Based on what the data says about Michaelchurch Escley. Take this list with you.

  1. 1“What did Ofsted say on its December 2022 visit?”The Good grade is from 2016. The newer report is the best guide to the school today.
  2. 2“How will you use the money in reserve?”The school had £33,706 saved at the last count.
  3. 3“Does a nursery place help with getting into Reception?”In 2026, 13 families applied and 9 were offered places.
  4. 4“How do you support children who need extra help?”14.3% of pupils have special educational needs here.
Nearby

Other primary schools nearby

Popular schools fill up, so it's wise to list more than one. Here's how Michaelchurch Escley compares with its neighbours.

See all Herefordshire primaries
Ofsted: GoodYou're here

Michaelchurch Escley Primary School

HR2 0PT · Community School · 63 pupils

Met the standard
80%
Days missed
5.3%
Pupils per teacher
13.7
Ofsted: Good

Peterchurch Primary School

HR2 0RP · State · Primary · Ages 4–11

Met the standard
29%
Days missed
4.6%
Pupils per teacher
17.2
Ofsted: Good

Longtown Community Primary School

HR2 0LE · State · Primary · Ages 4–11

Met the standard
100%
Days missed
3.5%
Pupils per teacher
14.1
Ofsted: Good

Clifford Primary School

HR3 5HA · State · Primary · Ages 4–11

Met the standard
94%
Days missed
4.9%
Pupils per teacher
18.0

Keep an eye on Michaelchurch Escley

We'll email you when there's a new Ofsted report, new results or new admissions figures. Nothing else.

Staff and money

Teachers, and what the school spends

1 teacher for every 14 children

Children per teacher across the whole school, not class size. Herefordshire: 18.7. England, primary schools: 20.7. Counting teaching assistants and other support staff, there's 1 adult for every 9 children.

Average class: 28 children.

4.6teachers (full-time equivalent)
2.3teaching assistants
100%of teachers fully qualified
Pupils in a classroom while their teacher presents
Staff, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
2026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011
Pupils per teacher13.714.312.913.513.312.410.911.618.111.111.211.55.38.916.915
England20.720.820.820.720.620.620.920.920.920.620.520.420.520.520.520.5
Teachers (full-time)4.64.24.24.64.94.84.8533.93.92.93.85.23.53.7
Teaching assistants2.3221.63.72.11.72.81.41.41.40.7122.1–
Qualified teachers100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%100%89%100%100%

Each year is the November staff count of that school year, so 2025 means 2024-25. Pupils per teacher covers the whole school, not class size. Full-time counts two half-time teachers as one. Qualified means holding qualified teacher status.

Source: DfE, School workforce in England.

£10,040 spent on each child a year

2025 to 2026. Up from £6,955 in 2015.

  • Staff (teachers, assistants and others)£7,74077%
  • Buildings and grounds£3684%
  • Everything else: books, IT, food, supplies£1,93119%
Money in
£9,528
Spent
£10,040

These are the school's own accounts. In 2025-26 it spent £32,221 more than it took in (£511 per pupil), which comes out of its reserves.

The school had £33,706 saved (£535 per pupil) in 2026. Reserves are for a rainy day, but they're meant to benefit pupils. Worth asking how they'll be used.

Money per pupil, year by yearEach England row is for the same year and kind of school.
202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Spending£10,040£10,054£9,963£8,656£7,625£6,619£7,087£6,199£5,550£6,540£6,263£6,955
England£7,039£6,588£6,167£5,758£5,397£5,306£5,126£5,058£5,066
Income£9,528£9,800£11,032£8,599£6,759£6,919£7,398£6,073£5,507£6,691£5,310£8,160
Staff costs£7,740£7,846£7,720£6,755£5,969£5,310£5,496£4,694£4,336£4,865––
Buildings and grounds£368£425£375£361£288£378£271£256£173£237––
Reserves£535£1,099£1,503£378£415£1,410£1,259£850£1,048£1,218£1,191£2,858

Each year is the financial year ending in that year. Per pupil means the year's total divided by the number of pupils. These are day-to-day figures: big building projects aren't counted.

Source: DfE, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool.

The basics

School details

Ages
4 to 11, with nursery
Type
Community School
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Size
63 pupils, 56 places
Headteacher
Mrs Louise Crocker
Council
Herefordshire
Address
Michaelchurch Escley, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 0PT
Phone
01981 510208
Website
michaelchurchprimary.com
School number (URN)
116714 · See it on the government register
Questions

Questions parents ask

Is Michaelchurch Escley Primary School a good school?

Ofsted rated it Good in June 2016. That's a while ago. In 2025, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 63% in Herefordshire and 62% across England. Visit, and read the latest inspection report.

What is Michaelchurch Escley Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated it Good in June 2016. That's a while ago. Ofsted no longer gives one overall grade, so its next inspection will give a report card that grades each area. The full report on Ofsted's website explains what it does well and what it needs to improve.

What are Michaelchurch Escley Primary School's SATs results?

In 2025, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 63% in Herefordshire and 62% across England. 10% reached the higher standard, against 9% in Herefordshire and 8% across England. Its average scaled scores were 109 in reading and 105 in maths, where 100 is the expected standard.

How does Michaelchurch Escley Primary School compare with other schools in Herefordshire?

80% of its pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2025. That puts it joint 12th of 77 mainstream state primary schools in Herefordshire with published results that year.

How hard is it to get a place?

In 2026, 13 families applied and 9 were offered Reception places, and 9 families put it as their first choice. Every family who put it first got a place that year.

Does Michaelchurch Escley have a nursery?

Yes, it has a nursery class. A nursery place doesn't guarantee a Reception place, so you still need to apply.

Is it a faith school?

No, it doesn't have a religious character.

How do you work out the Eduscope rank score?

We compare the school with others of the same phase across England on its latest Ofsted inspection, results and attendance, and turn that into a score out of 100. The weights are on our methodology page. Admissions, staff and money aren't part of it.

Sources: Department for Education school performance tables, school census and workforce, academy accounts, admissions statistics, Ofsted and ISI. Photos are stand-ins. School details and inspections checked against official records on 5 November 2026.

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