Our School

The first purpose built school in Bishop’s Cleeve opened in 1846 opposite St Michael’s Church in School Road in what is now the Church Hall.  In 1965, a new school was built in Tobyfield Road. This school was initially only for infant school children, whilst older children remained at the site in School Road. After additional building work at the Tobyfield Road site the two schools joined together in 1971 to become Bishop’s Cleeve Primary School. In August 2011, we converted to an academy school and became known as Bishop's Cleeve Primary Academy.

We are a three-form entry school with classes organised by year group. Our teachers are supported by a Teaching Assistant in every class.

Our classrooms are fully fitted with all the necessary resources and equipment. They are bright, exciting and challenging places with displays that regularly change. Every classroom is fitted with a large touchscreen interactive television, linked to a laptop and these are used throughout each day to help with the delivery of the curriculum.

In addition to our classrooms, we are fortunate to have two separate halls, one for the infant and one for the junior children. At lunchtime our junior children have their lunch in the junior hall and the infant children eat in their hall. Many of our children have a hot school meal and these are served from either our kitchen adjacent to the junior hall for junior children or in the infant hall for the younger children.

Across the school, we have portable laptop trolleys, , to support the teaching of computing and for use across the curriculum. We also have 50 iPads and a selection of other tablets for use in classrooms. We recognise the importance of using technology to support and enhance teaching and learning so facilitate this by ensuring we are up to date with digital advances.

Our junior children have access to a large playing field with a football pitch and room for other games such as rounders and cricket. They also have a hard-surfaced play area with a shelter, basketball goals and a climbing wall. Adjacent to this is our quiet area with seating and some beautiful planting. This area has been enhanced by the addition of some impressive nature mosaics made by Year 3 children. In 2011, it was further enhanced by the addition of a small totem pole. The totem pole was carved by Raymond Holter, the grandfather of two of our ex-pupils. It was then decorated by some children from Year 3. It now stands proudly in the quiet area of the junior playground. 

The infant children have access to some equally impressive outside play areas. Presently the infant playground includes a hard-surface play area and a large playing field. Part of the playing field has been planted with some living willow structures to provide some shade and some fun for our children. They also have access to a small quiet area with some seating and a log trail. Our hard-working Friends of Bishop's Cleeve Primary School have landscaped this area and built a gazebo-style shelter for the children to use.

Whilst they do have access to the infant playground, our Reception children also have their own separate fenced play area with seating and their own equipment such a scooters and bicycles to play on. 

We have several small gardens around the school. One of these gardens is a wildlife garden with bird feeders and nesting boxes. We have also created a Sensory Garden in school that all of the children can enjoy.

Recognising that mental wellbeing is hugely important in enabling children to learn to their full potential, we are proud and excited to introduce our new pastoral room. The Hive is situated between our Year 2 classrooms and the KS2 hall and has been transformed into a child-friendly, nurturing space with activities to help children develop their social and emotional wellbeing. Sometimes our children may need support to help them navigate school. They might need to take a different direction, learn new skills and to find their way, find some tools to help them achieve or be brave enough to try a new adventure. The Pastoral Team and the The Hive can help.

Our staff aim to give your children a very high standard of education and care. We ensure their safety and security throughout the school day and cater for individual needs wherever possible. We have an open-door policy in school and we are happy to deal with any concerns or problems you might have from time to time as sensitively and as quickly as possible.

We are extremely proud of our school and its facilities and we would encourage new or future parents to look around the school. If you would like to visit please do so by making an appointment with the Head Teacher through the School Office. During the year we hold open mornings for parents to visit the school and have a guided tour with some of our Year 6 children. The dates for these open mornings are advertised on our school Facebook page at local pre-school settings, as well as on our school calendar and diary listing on this website.