Headington Quarry Nursery School
N/A
Capacity
91
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Headington Quarry Nursery School
Headington Quarry Nursery School is a state-funded nursery in Oxford, with 91 children on roll. That figure sits below its published capacity, suggesting the school is not currently oversubscribed, though no specific admissions data is provided to confirm demand. The school serves children aged two to five, and its intake is mixed gender with no religious character. Free school meal eligibility figures are not available in the data, so it is not possible to compare its socioeconomic intake against the local or national average. The nursery is one of only three Outstanding-rated schools among the seven state nursery schools in Oxfordshire, placing it in a strong minority within the local authority. Its nearest Outstanding neighbour is Slade Nursery School, 0.7 kilometres away, so families in the Headington area have a choice of two top-rated state nurseries within walking distance.
Academically, the nursery’s most recent graded inspection took place in 2015, when it received an Outstanding rating across all assessed areas, including overall effectiveness, early years provision, and leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed that the school remains Outstanding, meaning its quality has been sustained for nearly a decade. The previous graded inspection in 2012 rated the school Good, so there has been a clear improvement trajectory. No exam or attainment data is available for a nursery of this age range, so parents should focus on the Ofsted judgments as the primary measure of quality. The early years provision, which is the core of what the school offers, was rated Outstanding in both the 2015 graded inspection and the 2024 ungraded visit, indicating consistently high standards in the youngest children’s learning and development.
The school offers a range of facilities including a dining hall, music rooms, library, outdoor playground, gymnasium, and a chapel. Sports provision includes swimming, gymnastics, and dance, while clubs cover gardening, eco club, and art club. For children with additional needs, the nursery has specialist provisions for social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and hearing impairment. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children require targeted early support in these areas. The school is not a boarding school and operates solely as a nursery. Given its Outstanding rating, strong early years focus, and specialist SEND support, Headington Quarry Nursery School is particularly well suited to local families seeking a high-quality state nursery place for their two- to five-year-old, especially those whose children may benefit from speech and language or hearing impairment provision.
Key Details
| School Type | Nursery (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 5 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Quarry School Place, Oxford, Oxford, OX3 8LH |
| Headteacher | Natalie Wilson |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 91 |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (2 Jul 2024): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jun 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
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
6Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/2575% 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
2024/25Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British44.0%
- Asian19.8%
- Mixed18.7%
- White (other)15.4%
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.
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
6
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Headington Quarry Nursery School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
Quarry School Place, Oxford
Oxford, OX3 8LH
Quarry School Place, Oxford
Oxford, OX3 8LH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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