Oxford Road Community School

About Oxford Road Community School

Oxford Road Community School sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to Reading primary schools, with 57% of its Year 6 pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined in the 2023/24 academic year. That is four percentage points below the local authority average of 61%, and places the school 24th out of 38 primaries in Reading. Digging into the individual subjects, the school performs strongest in reading, where 80% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 107. Maths followed at 77% expected, with an average score of 106. Writing was the weakest area, with 70% reaching the expected level, though 13% achieved the higher standard. The school ranks in the bottom half nationally, sitting at the 65th percentile among all primary schools in England. Compared with its nearest outstanding-rated neighbour, All Saints Junior School, which sits just half a kilometre away, Oxford Road's headline attainment is noticeably lower.

The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2024, confirmed that standards are being maintained at Good, a rating it has held since at least 2010. The inspection team rated leadership and management, early years provision and overall effectiveness all as Good. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of the 11 respondents to the Parent View survey said they would recommend the school, and 73% strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. On academic expectations, 45% strongly agreed and another 45% agreed that the school has high expectations for their child. The school's Progress 8 scores are not available, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds beyond raw attainment. However, the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 29.2%, above the national average, which provides important context for the school's attainment figures.

Oxford Road Community School is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision on site. It is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 177 applications for 30 places, a ratio of nearly six to one, and 47 families put it as their first preference. The school has a capacity of 292 and currently has 242 pupils on roll, so there is some headroom. Facilities include a music room, gymnasium, sensory room, library and chapel. The school offers a broad range of sports including netball, football, cricket, swimming, athletics, tennis and rounders, plus clubs such as book club, drama, eco club, choir and art club. For children with special educational needs, the school supports those with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. This is a school that suits families who value a strong sense of community and pastoral care, and who are comfortable with its solid but not outstanding academic profile.

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