Basildon C.E. Primary School
74%
Capacity
177
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Basildon C.E. Primary School
Basildon C.E. Primary School is a Church of England state primary in West Berkshire that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed with 32 applications for its 20 Reception places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.6. All 19 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning that while the school is popular, local families who put it first have a strong chance of success. The school has a nursery provision for children aged two and above, which may help families secure a place early. With 177 pupils against a capacity of 240, there is some room to grow, and the school serves a relatively affluent intake — just 4.5 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average.
Academically, Basildon C.E. presents a mixed picture. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, carried out in 2012, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in February 2023 confirmed that the school remains Good. At Key Stage 2, 47 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the West Berkshire local authority average of 57 per cent. However, reading results were a clear strength: 87 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard and 40 per cent achieved a higher score. The average reading score was 108, compared with 103 in maths. Progress measures are not available, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds, but the reading outcomes are notably strong.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a Forest School, library, sports hall, ICT suite, sensory room and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers rounders, swimming, football and tennis, while clubs include film, chess, art, eco and choir. SEND support is broad, covering dyslexia, social and emotional needs, speech and language difficulties, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. For families who value a village-school feel with a strong reading focus and a clear Christian character, Basildon C.E. is a good fit. It ranks 42nd out of 67 primary schools in West Berkshire on the KS2 combined measure, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority, but its reading results and oversubscription suggest it remains a popular choice for local families.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | School Lane, Reading, West Berkshire, RG8 8PD |
| Headteacher | Melissa Cliffe |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 177 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 4.5% |
| School Capacity | 177 / 240 (74% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Feb 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 11 Jan 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (47%)
11493rd of 13,686
Nationally
1732nd of 2,034
In South East
43rd of 57
In West Berkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
47%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
82%
'23/24
47%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed20
32
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
19 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:30
Breakfast club
07:45-08:40
After-school care
15:30-18:00
Source: basildonprimary.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.9%
- White (other)4.5%
- Mixed4.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Basildon C.E. Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
School Lane, Reading
West Berkshire, RG8 8PD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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