Every Oxfordshire primary school with an outstanding Ofsted rating

Ofsted, also known as the Office for Standards in Education, inspects and awards ratings to state schools in England to judge and monitor the quality of education they are providing.

Ofsted rates schools on a scale from ‘inadequate’, to ‘satisfactory’, ‘good’ and finally ‘outstanding’.

In Oxfordshire, four secondary schools and 24 primary schools have ‘outstanding’ ratings.  

Here is why 24 primary schools have been rated as ‘outstanding’:

Kingham Primary School

Kingham Primary School received a ‘good’ Ofsted rating in 2008 before achieving an outstanding rating in 2010.

The school was outstanding in most areas, with a few ‘good’ ratings including in Pupils attendance’, ‘The use of assessment to support learning’ and ‘The effectiveness of safe guarding procedures’.

The last inspection reported that ‘Pupils’ attainment is high, their achievement is excellent and both have improved steadily year on year. All pupils speak, read and write extremely well, although the spelling of a few is sometimes inaccurate’.

It also added: ‘Pupils’ behaviour is excellent. Their consideration for other pupils’ feelings and their celebration for successes of other pupils in sports and school work are outstanding.’

Whitchurch Primary School

Whitchurch Primary School received a ‘good’ rating in 2006 and achieved its ‘outstanding’ rating in 2009.

The school achieved ‘outstanding’ ratings in nearly every area, with a few exceptions which were rated ‘good’. This included ‘The attendance of learners’ and ‘The behaviour of learners’

The inspection revealed that ‘Both parents and pupils hold the school in high regard. One parent echoed the thoughts of many when he wrote, 'I have no concerns about my child in this wonderful school'.

The report also noted ‘The personal development and well-being of all pupils are outstanding’ and ‘Pupils make such exceptional progress because teaching and learning are of outstanding quality’.

Windmill Primary School

Windmill Primary School was rated ‘inadequate’ in 2006 before moving up to ‘satisfactory’ in 2007, ‘good’ in 2010 and finally ‘outstanding’ in 2015.

The 2015 inspection saw the school rated ‘outstanding’ in every single area.

The report revealed the ‘Teachers plan lessons that excite learners so that they are keen to engage in their tasks. Pupils produce high-level pieces of work that are often displayed in classrooms and around school’.

As well as this, ‘Pupils are extremely polite and well mannered. They are really good friends with each other across the age groups. They look out for each other and understand the difficulties that some of their friends may sometimes encounter. Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning and are keen to talk about their work’.

Stockham Primary School

Stockham Primary School held its ‘good’ rating over two inspections, the first in 2008 and the second in 2013. It achieved its ‘outstanding’ rating in 2019.

During the 2019 inspection the school achieved ‘outstanding’ ratings across all areas.

The report summarised that ‘Leaders and teachers are single-minded in their pursuit of excellence. The school’s motto, ‘Soaring high’, underpins all aspects of its work’.

It added: ‘Pupils are extremely motivated to learn. They enjoy reading and accessing rich texts. Due to teachers’ enthusiasm and commitment, pupils display high levels of interest in a broad range of subjects’.

Thomas Reade Primary School

Thomas Reade Primary School received a ‘satisfactory’ rating in 2005, before bringing this up to a ‘good’ rating in 2009 and finally an ‘outstanding’ rating in 2011.

The school received ‘outstanding’ ratings in almost all areas, except in a few where it received ‘good’ ratings. These included ‘The quality of pupils learning and their progress’ and ‘The use of Assessment to support learning’.

The report said: ‘This is a school that is not standing still. Leaders’ ambitions and their very strong drive for improvement are firmly embedded, with members of staff providing excellent challenge and support to the headteacher’.

Combe CofE Primary School

Combe CofE Primary School has had an ‘outstanding’ rating since 2008.

The school received outstanding ratings across the board, except in ‘The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage’ where they received a ‘good’ rating.

The report said: ‘Pupils achieve extremely well and reach exceptionally high standards at this outstanding school. Pupils are enthusiastic about all that their teachers and support staff offer them. Standards by the end of Years 2 and 6 are, and have been since the school's last inspection, exceptionally high in English, mathematics and science’.

Woodstock Church of England Primary School

Woodstock Church of England Primary School received a ‘good’ rating in 2008 before achieving an ‘outstanding’ rating in 2013.

Upon its last inspection the school received ‘outstanding’ ratings across the board.

The report said: ‘Pupils make outstanding progress in reading, writing and mathematics. By the end of Year 6 they are achieving standards that are significantly above those achieved nationally.’

Adding that ‘Outstanding teaching is characterised by well-planned, exciting and enjoyable lessons that have high expectation for all pupils. Work is well matched to the ability of the pupils to help them maximise their potential to make progress’.

St Andrew's Church of England Primary School

St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School received a ‘good’ rating in 2007, before dropping down to ‘satisfactory’ in 2010 and then jumping to an ‘outstanding’ rating in 2013.

The school achieved ‘outstanding’ ratings in all categories.

In the report the school was described as having ‘Outstanding teaching, supported by very skilled teaching assistants, provides imaginative, stimulating activities that capture pupils’ interest and inspire them to want to learn more’.

It added ‘Pupils enjoy all aspects of school. Their outstanding behaviour supports learning very well and ensures the school is a calm, harmonious environment’ and ‘Pupils feel very safe and are unfailingly considerate of their own and one another’s safety and well-being’.

Longworth Primary School

Longworth Primary School achieved a ‘good’ rating in 2008 before going on to achieve ‘outstanding’ in 2011.

The school received ‘outstanding’ marks in nearly every area, except in ‘Pupil’s behaviour’ and ‘The use of assessment to support learning’ which achieved ‘good’.

The inspection report revealed the school has ‘Excellent leadership’ which is ‘at the heart of the school's many successes. Everyone, adult and pupil alike, has high ambitions and the necessary energy and drive to reach their personal and collective goals’.

It added: ‘Lessons are great fun but also sessions of hard work. Teaching and learning are outstanding overall.’

Trinity Church of England Primary School

Trinity Church of England Primary School received two ‘good’ ratings in 2006 and 2012 before achieving an ‘outstanding’ rating in 2016.

The school achieved ‘outstanding’ marks overall across all categories.

The report said: ‘Sharp analysis of assessment enables teachers to refine their plans and make best use of the first-class teaching assistants. Learning builds strongly on pupils’ prior understanding and all groups or pupils, including the most able, make rapid progress.’

It also added that ‘Pupils enjoy learning science, French and the humanities and they achieve well in these subjects’ but ‘assessment processes and standards of presentation are not as strong in these subjects as they are in English and mathematics’.

Appleton Church of England (A) Primary School

Appleton Church of England (A) Primary School has held its ‘outstanding’ rating since 2008.

At the time of inspection the school achieved ‘outstanding’ ratings in every area.

The report revealed ‘Pupils flourish beyond the expectations of many parents because they are given, 'Wings to fly'’.

‘The success of the school stems from the headteacher's outstanding leadership and management. Her key aim that, 'Everything we do at Appleton is personalised to the learning needs of each individual pupil and ensuring they are happy and fulfilled during their time with us', is fully realised.’

St John the Evangelist CofE VA Primary School

St John the Evanelist CofE VA Primary School received a ‘good’ rating before dropping down to ‘satisfactory’ and then ‘inadequate’ in 2012, in 2014 the school moved back up to ‘good’ and then ‘outstanding’ in 2020.

At it’s 2020 inspection the school received ‘outstanding’ marks in every category.

The report noted ‘Leaders and staff have the highest expectations of all pupils. Pupils work very hard in lessons and achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum.

‘They have extremely high aspirations. Pupils relish the opportunities that the school offers. The wide range of clubs that the vast majority of pupils attend enrich their understanding of the world.’

Ladygrove Park Primary School

Ladygrove Park Primary School achieved a ‘good’ rating in 2006 before achieving an ‘outstanding’ rating in 2011.

The school achieved ‘outstanding’ marks in most areas and where there were exceptions these areas were rated ‘good’.

The report said: ‘the school leadership is innovative and relentless in its drive for improvement. Attainment by the time pupils leave in Year 6 is significantly above the national average in English and mathematics with many pupils reaching the higher level (Level 5) in reading and mathematics.’

It also noted: ‘The curriculum is vibrant and engages pupils exceptionally well so they are keen to learn and come to school.’

Buckland Church of England Primary School

Buckland Church of England Primary School has held its ‘outstanding’ rating since 2016.

The school achieved ‘outstanding’ ratings across the board.

The inspection noted ‘The headteacher leads by example, insisting on the highest standards in all areas of the school. Her expertise is used very well across the academy trust’.

It added that ‘Pupils achieve highly. In 2016 tests and assessments, early information shows that the proportion achieving above the nationally set expectations in reading, writing and mathematics was much higher than average’.

Longcot and Fernham Church of England Primary School

Longcot and Fernham Church of England Primary School received a ‘satisfactory’ rating in 2007 before moving up to ‘outstanding’ in 2009.

The school achieved ‘outstanding’ marks in most areas, except a few such as ‘The effectiveness of safe guarding procedures’.

The report said: ‘The school demonstrates outstanding capacity for further improvement. There is very close team work amongst the staff’.

The Hendreds Church of England School

The Hendreds Church of England School has held its ‘outstanding’ rating since 2016.

The school received ‘outstanding’ marks in every area.

The reported noted: ‘The school is very welcoming to newcomers with a range of abilities and needs. Teachers target pupils’ differing needs precisely so that all groups of pupils make substantial progress’.

Adding: ‘Children in the early years join the school with wide-ranging skills and abilities. Most make rapid progress across the areas of learning so that they are well prepared for Year 1. The most able children exceed the expectations for their age’.

GEMS Didcot Primary Academy

GEMS Didcot Primary Academy received an ‘outstanding’ rating in 2019.

The report shows the school achieved ‘outstanding’ marks across the board.

The inspection report said: ‘Teachers and teaching assistants know pupils well. Teachers use this understanding and their strong subject knowledge to plan activities that are expertly matched to pupils’ abilities in all subjects. Teachers’ and teaching assistants’ use of questioning is highly effective.’

It also noted that ‘The curriculum inspires staff and pupils because it is vibrant and thoughtfully planned. Pupils’ skills, knowledge and understanding are developed exceptionally well across a range of carefully interconnected curriculum areas’.

Holy Trinity Catholic School, Chipping Norton

Holy Trinity Catholic School, Chipping Norton has held an ‘outstanding’ rating since 2017.

The school was rated as ‘outstanding’ in every area.

The report found ‘Pupils have exceptionally positive attitudes to learning. They are highly respectful of each other and behave very well in lessons and around the school. They are extremely polite, friendly and have good manners’.

It also added ‘In Year 6 in 2016, pupils’ attainment in reading, writing and mathematics was significantly above average. Current pupils also reach high standards across all subjects. They have many opportunities to experience and try new things across the curriculum’.

The Batt Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

The Batt Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School achieved a ‘good’ rating 2007 and then achieved ‘outstanding’ in 2011.

The school was marked as ‘outstanding’ in nearly every area, except a couple where it was marked as ‘good’ – such as in ‘Pupil’s attendance’.

William Morris Primary School

William Morris Primary School has held an ‘outstanding’ rating since 2018.

The school was rated as ‘outstanding’ in every area.

The report found that since taking charge ‘the headteacher has driven the development of the school with grit and determination. The improvements achieved in every area of the school have been rapid and highly effective.’

It also found ‘Teaching is calm, purposeful and precise. Teachers know exactly what pupils require because they understand how to assess pupils’ needs. They push pupils to achieve their best and ensure that ‘no pupil is left behind’’.

Brize Norton Primary School

Brize Norton Primary School has held an ‘outstanding’ rating since 2013.

The last report found the school was ‘outstanding’ in every area.

The report noted: ‘Children are given an excellent start in the Early Years Foundation Stage because the adults successfully and quickly develop all of their skills.’

It also found ‘The impact of teaching over time is outstanding. Teachers’ high quality written and oral feedback ensures all pupils make rapid progress in all subjects. Teachers plan exciting lessons that incorporate pupils’ interests and suggestions’.

Dr Radcliffe's Church of England Primary School

Dr Radcliffe's Church of England Primary School has held onto an ‘outstanding’ rating since 2007.

The school achieved ‘outstanding’ marks in nearly every area except a couple, such as How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress, which were rated as ‘good’.

The report found: ‘The pupils are looked after and cared for exceptionally well. Child protection procedures are fully in place and the safety and welfare of the pupils is carefully considered in all activities.’

Adding: ‘The pupils are given a broad range of interesting things to learn about and creative things to do. Because the curriculum is carefully planned, there is a clear focus on the pupils' progress in the key skills of speaking and listening, literacy, numeracy, ICT and team-work. The organisation and time-tabling are flexible.’

Kidmore End Church of England Primary School

Kidmore End Church of England Primary School was rated as ‘satisfactory’ in 2005 before going on to achieve ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ ratings in 2009 and 2011.

The school was rated as ‘outstanding in nearly every area at its last inspection and where it was not it was rated as ‘good’.

The report said ‘The headteacher has led the school with relentless determination and ambition in the last three years, so that pupils’ attainment is consistently high and their achievement is outstanding’.

It also found: ‘The school ensures that the progress of different groups of pupils is closely monitored and this has led to all groups now achieving very well, and there is no evidence of any discrimination.’

Watlington Primary School

Watlington Primary School achieved two ‘outstanding’ ratings in a row, one in 2008 and the most recent in 2013.

The most recent report found the school was outstanding in every area.

It said: ‘The school is a happy and harmonious community in a safe and secure environment. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted extremely well and pupils feel valued and well cared for.’

It also noted: ‘Pupils throughout the school make very rapid progress in their learning and achieve very high standards in English and mathematics. They read very well, develop wide vocabularies and speak with great confidence in front of others.’