Extracts from Independent Schools Inspectorate report (6 Mar 2006):   The impressive school buildings stand on a hill, amidst 40 acres of parkland, in the area of Charlton Kings, just outside Cheltenham. The nursery department has its own spacious building and the infant and junior areas are separate. The 390 pupils are almost equally divided between boys and girls and about one-third of these are Catholic. The catchment area is wide and pupils come from a variety of backgrounds. An increasing proportion of families are new to independent education, and these include a number of parents from the United States of America and other countries, who work in Cheltenham. The average ability of pupils on entry is above the national average for all maintained primary schools. However the school admits pupils at any age and all years have a wide ability spread. Entry to the school is not competitive although an informal assessment is given to prospective pupils to ensure that they can benefit from the education provided. If pupils perform in line with their abilities, their results will be above the average for all maintained primary schools. At the age of 11, about half transfer to St Edward's Senior School, and the majority of the remainder are successful in entering local grammar and other independent schools.

St Edward's Junior School provides a high quality, broad and varied educational experience for its pupils and prepares them very well for their journey through school, their next school and into adult life. The school's aim to offer a very good, all-round education for its pupils is well-fulfilled with considerable extra-curricular provision and a well-planned and balanced curriculum. The intellectual, personal, physical and aesthetic needs of the pupils of all ages are very well catered for. Since the last inspection, personal, social and health education (PSHE) has become a strength of the school and additionally, all children in the nursery now have access to the full curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to work independently and creatively. They are keen to learn, very well-behaved and courteous whether in the classroom or around the school. Their behaviour reflects the school's aim of the caring, Christian community in which they learn.

Pupils have a very good grounding in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. They are articulate, can listen well, and when talking to inspectors were able to express their views succinctly. The well-equipped information and communication technology (ICT) facilities aid learning and strong evidence was seen of cross-curricular links using ICT. The school has a good number of interactive whiteboards and these are used well in some departments but are not yet fully used in all teaching. Extra-curricular activities in both infant and junior departments make an effective contribution to the pupils' all-round education. Junior clubs include a variety of sports, music, computing, art and craft and chess. Infants enjoy dance, as well as the after-school care club 'Teddies'. Various high quality opportunities for enrichment are provided particularly through residential trips for older pupils from Year 4 upwards, including a French trip for Year 5, an activity trip for Year 6 and a school ski holiday. All pupils, including the youngest, benefit from visitors to the school such as chaplains, charity workers, artists and musicians. These include parents and staff who talk of their work or hobbies. The spacious grounds are well used within the curriculum, as are visits to places locally and further afield.