Bloxham Church of England Primary School

About Bloxham Church of England Primary School

Bloxham Church of England Primary School is a mixed state primary for children aged 4 to 11, and it’s currently running below its full capacity. With 350 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 420, there is some room to grow, yet the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 40 applications for just 22 places, with 21 of those going to first-preference families. That oversubscription ratio of 1.82 suggests a strong local pull, even though the school’s intake profile is notably more disadvantaged than the national average. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 15.1%, which is higher than the typical primary in England, and this context matters when interpreting the school’s performance data. Bloxham is a Church of England school, so it has a religious character, and it serves the Cherwell area within Oxfordshire. The headteacher is Sarah Marshall, and the school offers a range of facilities including a Forest School, a sensory room, a chapel, and a sports hall, alongside clubs like drama, choir, and book club.

Academically, the picture is mixed and reflects the school’s current Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement, which was confirmed in a 2025 inspection. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 53% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, which is below the Oxfordshire local authority average of 61%. The school’s ranking in Cherwell places it 36th out of 45 primaries, and nationally it sits in the bottom 50% of schools on this measure. However, individual subject scores tell a slightly more nuanced story: 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, and 65% in maths, with average scaled scores of 104 and 103 respectively. The proportion reaching the higher standard in reading was 24%, and in maths 22%, though only 6% hit the higher bar across all three subjects. The Ofsted inspection noted improvements in leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and early years provision, all rated Good, while the quality of education remains Requires Improvement.

The school’s SEND provision is a significant consideration for families. Bloxham supports pupils with a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. However, the Parent View responses from 87 families, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, reveal real concern here: 43% strongly disagreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, and only 35% agreed or strongly agreed overall. On the plus side, 73% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 73% felt their child is safe. The school’s recommendation rate sits at 53% yes versus 47% no, which is a fairly even split. Facilities like a sensory room and Forest School are available, and sports include football, swimming, and athletics. Given the oversubscription, families applying will want to be aware of the first-preference offer rate and the school’s Church of England character, which may factor into admissions criteria.

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