Holtspur School & Pre-School

About Holtspur School & Pre-School

Holtspur School & Pre-School is a state primary in Buckinghamshire that runs close to capacity, with 201 pupils against a school capacity of 210. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 20.4%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and suggests a more diverse socioeconomic intake than many of its local peers. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 109 applications for just 27 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 4.04 applicants per place. Of those, only 16 first-preference offers were made, indicating that while the school is popular, many families who put it first were not successful. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for children from age 4 to 11, with a pre-school on site that extends provision to younger children. Headteacher Lea McKellar leads a relatively small school community where the pupil count suggests each year group averages around 30 children.

Academically, Holtspur performs around the middle of the pack in Buckinghamshire. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 65% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just one percentage point above the local authority average of 64%. The school ranks 66th out of 137 primaries in Buckinghamshire on this measure, placing it in the 48th percentile locally and the 43rd percentile nationally. Individual subject scores are solid: average scaled scores of 105 in reading and 104 in maths, with 77% reaching the expected standard in reading and 69% in both maths and writing. At the higher standard, 31% achieved in reading, 35% in maths, but only 12% in writing. Ofsted last inspected the school in July 2023 and rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The previous inspection in 2012 also rated it Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.

The school offers a range of facilities including a Forest School, sensory room, ICT suite, and a chapel, and runs clubs in drama, science and gardening. Sports provision covers netball, swimming, cricket, athletics and rounders. Holtspur has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder, plus a resourced provision. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children need additional support within a mainstream setting. Given its oversubscription, families should be prepared to apply early and consider alternatives. The school suits parents who want a well-established, Good-rated primary with a broad extracurricular offer and a genuine commitment to inclusion, set in a small school environment.

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