Charlton Primary School

About Charlton Primary School

Charlton Primary School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent inspections, including an ungraded visit in October 2024 where standards were confirmed as being upheld. The most telling academic metric for this 2-11 mixed state primary is its Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard score: 53% of pupils achieved this benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits below the Oxfordshire local authority average of 61%, and places the school 153rd out of 242 primary schools in the county. In the Vale of White Horse, it ranks 32nd out of 47 schools on the same measure. Digging into the individual subjects, reading and writing both saw 71% and 72% of pupils reach the expected standard respectively, while maths was also at 72%. However, only 5% of pupils reached the higher standard across all three subjects, and just 7% did so in maths, suggesting the school is stronger at getting children to a solid baseline than pushing them into the top tier.

The school’s average scaled scores tell a similar story: 105 in reading and 102 in maths, both around the national average of 100. Parent feedback is broadly positive, with 89% of the 84 respondents saying they would recommend the school. Strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (63% strongly agreed) and feels safe (71% strongly agreed). However, there are areas of concern: on the question of whether the school gives SEND children the support they need, 20% disagreed and 10% strongly disagreed, while 11% of parents disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication, and autistic spectrum disorder, so there is a framework in place, but the parent view suggests some families feel it could be more effective.

Charlton is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 175 applications for 57 places and all 57 first-preference applicants offered a spot, giving a ratio of just over three applications per place. The school runs a nursery provision for children from age two, and its facilities include a library, playing fields, a sensory room, art studios, a sports hall, an ICT suite and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, cross country, dance, athletics, rounders, tennis and swimming, while clubs cover science, drama and choir. With 450 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is operating slightly above its official limit, and the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is low at 8.1%. This is a school that suits families looking for a stable, Good-rated local option with a broad range of activities, but those with children who have SEND needs may want to probe the support on offer more closely before applying.

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