Burghfield St Mary's C.E. Primary School
98%
Capacity
205
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Burghfield St Mary's C.E. Primary School
Burghfield St Mary's C.E. Primary School stands out clearly against the West Berkshire average for primary schools. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 76% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of just 57%. That gap of 19 percentage points puts the school comfortably ahead of the typical primary in the area. It also ranks 9th out of 57 primary schools in West Berkshire, placing it in the top 25% nationally. The school is oversubscribed, with 60 applications for 29 places in 2025/26, and all 29 first-preference applicants were offered a place. That level of demand suggests local families see the school as a strong option, and the numbers back that up.
Academically, the school performs well across individual subjects too. In reading, 93% of pupils reached the expected standard, with 45% achieving a higher score. Maths saw 83% at the expected level and 48% at the higher level. Average scaled scores were 109 in reading and 107 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. Ofsted inspectors in July 2023 rated the school Good overall, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding. Leadership and management, quality of education, personal development and early years provision all received Good grades. The school has held a Good rating consistently, with its previous inspection in 2012 also awarding Good overall. There is no sixth form, as this is a primary school for ages 4 to 11.
The school is a Church of England primary with a chapel on site, and facilities include a library, ICT suite, art studios, gymnasium and sports hall. Sports on offer include cricket, athletics, netball, tennis, dance and football, with clubs such as film club, eco club and drama. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With 205 pupils against a capacity of 210, the school is near full but not overcrowded, and 11.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes within a church foundation, and who want a well-resourced primary with good behaviour standards and a range of extracurricular activities.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Theale Road, Reading, West Berkshire, RG30 3TX |
| Headteacher | Karen Carmichael |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Number of Pupils | 205 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.7% |
| School Capacity | 205 / 210 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 28 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (76%)
2502nd of 13,686
Nationally
343rd of 2,034
In South East
9th of 57
In West Berkshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
76%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
69%
'23/24
76%
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
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed29
60
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
29 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:30
Breakfast club
08:00-08:45
After-school care
15:15-16:15
Source: burghfield.w-berks.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.0%
- Mixed7.4%
- Asian4.0%
- White (other)3.9%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% 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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Burghfield St Mary's 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
Theale Road, Reading
West Berkshire, RG30 3TX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Reviews on Other Platforms
External reviews are provided by third-party platforms and are not verified by Classpot.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Burghfield St Mary's C.E. Primary School!
Write a Review