Pangbourne Primary School

About Pangbourne Primary School

Pangbourne Primary School is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, located in the West Berkshire local authority. It is one of 67 primary schools in the area and currently ranks 56th among them, placing it in the bottom half of the LA’s schools. For context, the top-performing peers nearby include The Ilsleys Primary School, Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery, and Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet School. The school is led by headteacher Melissa Fry and has a religious character that does not apply. With 134 pupils on roll against a capacity of 236, it is significantly undersubscribed in terms of total places, though it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 admission round, receiving 26 applications for 12 places and offering 12 to first-preference families. The school serves a community where 19.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average and reflects a broadly typical intake for the area.

Academically, Pangbourne Primary’s most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023 confirmed it remains Good overall, a rating it has held consistently since its previous graded inspection in 2012. The inspection report noted Good leadership and management alongside Good overall effectiveness. However, the school’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 academic year are notably low. Only 5% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the West Berkshire LA average of 57%. In individual subjects, 55% reached the expected standard in reading, 36% in maths, and just 18% in writing. No pupils achieved the higher standard in reading or writing, and only 5% did so in maths. Average scores were 100 in reading and 96 in maths. Progress measures were not available, but the school ranks in the bottom 50 nationally for its combined KS2 expected standard score, placing 13,657th out of 13,686 primary schools.

The school offers a range of facilities including playing fields, an outdoor playground, a sensory room, an ICT suite, a library and a chapel. Sports provision covers swimming, football, tennis and athletics, while clubs include chess, science club and book club. SEND provisions are in place for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no nursery provision or sixth form. For families considering Pangbourne, the school suits those who value a small, community-focused setting with strong SEND support and a Good Ofsted rating, but who are comfortable with academic outcomes that fall well below the LA average. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Birch Copse Primary School, 3.3 km away, which may be an alternative for families prioritising top-tier results.

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