Bletchingdon Parochial Church of England Primary School

About Bletchingdon Parochial Church of England Primary School

Bletchingdon Parochial Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Oxfordshire, located in the Cherwell borough. It ranks 24th out of 45 primary schools in Cherwell on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it in the bottom half of its local authority. Among its top-performing local peers are Longworth Primary School, Hornton Primary School, and Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. The school has a Church of England religious character and is led by headteacher Caroline Walker. With 91 pupils on roll against a capacity of 120, it is undersubscribed in terms of total places, but admissions data for 2025/26 tells a more competitive story: the school received 36 applications for just 10 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.6 to 1, with all 8 first-preference applicants offered a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 21.7 per cent.

Academically, Bletchingdon’s most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024 judged the school as Good overall, with leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour and attitudes all rated Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 assessments, 62 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just above the Oxfordshire local authority average of 61 per cent. However, only 8 per cent reached the higher standard in all three subjects. Reading and maths average scores were 107 and 105 respectively, and the school’s national ranking places it in the bottom 50 per cent of all primary schools on the expected standard metric. Parent View responses, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, show 97 per cent of parents agreeing their child is happy, and 94 per cent agreeing their child feels safe.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, playing fields, art studios, an ICT suite, a chapel, and a Forest School. Sports provision includes swimming, tennis, cricket, and gymnastics, while clubs cover drama, book club, art club, choir, and science club. SEND support is available for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. However, Parent View data shows mixed satisfaction: while 70 per cent of respondents agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, 30 per cent disagreed. On behaviour, 61 per cent agreed the school ensures good behaviour, but 32 per cent disagreed. The school has nursery provision but no sixth form. For families considering Bletchingdon, it suits those who value a small, Church of England primary with improving Ofsted grades and a strong local reputation, but the oversubscription means early application is essential.

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