Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School
Hill View, Defford, Worcester, WR8 9BH
- Phase
- Primary
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Ages
- 5 to 10
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Headteacher
- Headteacher Liam Hanson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
- Nursery provision
- Has Nursery Classes
- Constituency
- West Worcestershire
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- Capacity
- 60
- Pupils on roll
- 54
- URN
- 116802
- Local authority
- Worcestershire
- Website
- School website
- Telephone
- 01386750321
About this school
Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School is a Church of England voluntary controlled primary school in Worcester. It teaches children aged 5 to 10 and has 54 pupils on roll.
Ofsted has inspected Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School, and its latest judgement is set out below. Where the Department for Education has published them, its results and pupil characteristics appear below. Numbers and a report only go so far, so visit in person before you apply.
Ofsted judgement
Overall judgement at the last full inspection
This inspection took place under the previous framework, which gave a single overall grade. Ofsted now publishes report cards instead, so newer inspections of other schools will look different. How Ofsted report cards work
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Effective
Trends over time
How Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School has moved over recent years against the local and national picture. Every figure is shown in the table beneath its chart.
| Year | This school | England average |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 6.7% | 6.8% |
| 2023/24 | 6.2% | 6.6% |
| 2024/25 | 6% | 6.2% |
Department for Education pupil absence data.
| Year | This school |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 53 |
| 2023/24 | 45 |
| 2024/25 | 43 |
School census, spring count each academic year.
How Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School compares
Its absence rate was lower than 40% of England schools in 2024/25.
| School | KS2 RWM (2024/25) | Absence | FSM (6 years) | Pupils | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This school | — | 6% | 14% | 54 | — |
| Eckington CofE First School | — | 3.2% | 6.5% | 88 | 1.3 miles |
| Abbey Park Primary School | — | 5.7% | 34.3% | 289 | 2.2 miles |
| Holy Redeemer Catholic Primary School | 76% | 4.7% | 15.2% | 184 | 2.4 miles |
| Orchard Primary School | 50% | 8.9% | 22.2% | 185 | 2.7 miles |
| St Barnabas CofE Primary School | 60% | 5.6% | 24.5% | 190 | 3.2 miles |
Results reflect each school's cohort as much as its teaching, and free school meals share is context, not a judgement. Small gaps between neighbouring schools are rarely meaningful on their own.
Inspection history
- 25 April 2023
-
Ungraded inspection report4 March 2020
School context
From the 2024/25 school census and absence figures.
- Free school meals (last 6 years)
- 13.95%
- English as an additional language
- 0%
- Overall absence
- 5.99%
- Persistent absence
- 31.43%
Location
Nearby schools
-
Eckington CofE First School1.3 miles
Primary · Pershore
-
Abbey Park Primary School2.2 miles
Primary · Pershore
-
Holy Redeemer Catholic Primary School2.4 miles
Primary · Pershore
-
Orchard Primary School2.7 miles
Primary · Pershore
-
St Barnabas CofE Primary School3.2 miles
Primary · Pershore
Other schools in Worcester
- Broadheath CofE Primary School Primary
- Broadwas CofE Aided Primary School Primary
- Callow End CofE Primary School Primary
- Carnforth School Primary
- Cherry Orchard Primary School Primary
- Claines CofE Primary School Primary
- Clifton upon Teme Primary School Primary
- Cranham Primary School Primary
- Crowle CofE Primary School Primary
- Flyford Flavell Primary School Primary
- Great Witley CofE Primary School Primary
- Grimley and Holt CofE Primary School Primary
Common questions
- What ages does Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School teach?
- Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School teaches children aged 5 to 10. It is a primary school in Worcester.
- Who is the headteacher of Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School?
- The headteacher of Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School is Headteacher Liam Hanson, as recorded in the Department for Education's register of schools.
- Has Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School been inspected?
- Ofsted has inspected Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School, and its latest judgement is set out in the inspection section on this page, with the framework and the date it was made.
- How many pupils are at Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School?
- Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School has 54 pupils on roll, teaching children aged 5 to 10.
- Is Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School full?
- Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School has capacity for 60 pupils and 54 on roll (90%), so it has space against its published capacity. Places are allocated through the local authority's admissions process, so capacity alone does not tell you whether a place is available.
- Is Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School a faith school?
- Yes. Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School is designated Church of England, in the Diocese of Worcester.
- Does Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School have a nursery?
- Yes. The schools register records Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School as having nursery classes.
- What is Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School's absence rate?
- Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School's overall absence rate is 6% in the latest published census, at or below the England average of 6.2%.
- Does Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School publish exam results?
- OfferDay shows exam results for a school only where the Department for Education has published them, and none are shown for Defford-Cum-Besford CofE School. That is usual for infant, nursery, special and independent schools, and for schools without recent published results.
School details come from the Department for Education's Get Information About Schools register. Inspection outcomes come from Ofsted, and exam results from the Department for Education's school performance service. This page was last updated on 30 June 2026.