Cutteslowe Primary School

About Cutteslowe Primary School

Parents at Cutteslowe Primary School are overwhelmingly positive about their experience, with 85% of respondents to the Ofsted Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. That survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, drew 74 responses and showed particularly strong feelings around happiness and safety: 94% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 92% felt their child is safe. The school is clearly popular locally too. For the 2025/26 reception intake, Cutteslowe received 55 applications for just 22 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.5 to one. Of those, 20 families listed it as their first preference, and all 20 were offered a place. The school has a nursery provision for children from age three, and its total roll of 303 pupils sits well below its capacity of 420, suggesting there is room for growth in some year groups.

Academically, Cutteslowe performs around the middle of the pack for Oxfordshire primary schools. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 62% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just a whisker above the local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 15th out of 31 primaries in Oxford city on this measure, placing it in the bottom half of the LA table. Looking at individual subjects, reading is a relative strength: 87% of pupils met the expected standard and 36% achieved a higher score. Maths scores are more mixed, with 73% reaching the expected level and an average scaled score of 105. Writing lags a little behind, with 69% at the expected standard and only 20% reaching the higher benchmark. Ofsted last inspected the school in a graded visit in March 2020, awarding a Good rating across all categories including quality of education, behaviour and personal development. A subsequent ungraded inspection in June 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, a sports hall, art studios and a sensory room, which will appeal to families looking for a well-equipped state primary. Sports provision covers cricket, football, netball, gymnastics and dance, while clubs include choir, art and book club. For children with additional needs, Cutteslowe has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and specific learning difficulties like dyslexia. However, the Parent View data suggests some mixed feelings on SEND support: while 64% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, 21% disagreed. The school is non-denominational and serves a mixed community, with 21.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals. Given its oversubscription, families should apply early, but the high first-preference offer rate is reassuring. This is a Good-rated, well-regarded local option that suits families who value a strong sense of community and a broad curriculum.

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