Queensway School

About Queensway School

Queensway School’s Key Stage 2 results comfortably outpace the Oxfordshire local authority average for primary schools. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 61%, Queensway achieves 74% — a solid 13-point lead. This places the school in the top 25% nationally for that headline metric, and 8th out of 45 primary schools in the Cherwell district. The school’s overall Ofsted rating is Good, awarded in 2022, but its leadership and management were judged Outstanding — the only category to break into that top grade. That judgement suggests strong direction from headteacher Sarah Horbury-Jakeman, who has been in post since at least the inspection. The school is oversubscribed, with 136 applications for 60 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 57 of those 60 places went to first-preference families.

Digging into the detail of the 2023/24 KS2 results, Queensway’s performance is strongest in maths, where 89% of pupils reached the expected standard and 26% achieved the higher standard. Reading is close behind, with 81% at expected and 37% at the higher level — a notably strong higher-score rate. Writing is slightly lower, with 79% at expected and just 4% reaching the higher standard, which is a common pattern nationally. The average scaled scores are 107 in both reading and maths, which is above the national benchmark of 100. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The school’s Ofsted breakdown shows all inspected areas rated Good, with behaviour and attitudes, personal development, early years provision and quality of education all receiving that grade. The previous inspection, in 2012, also rated the school Good overall, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over a decade.

Queensway is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with nursery provision on site. It currently has 434 pupils against a capacity of 420, meaning it is slightly over its official roll. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 23%, which is above the national average and suggests a relatively diverse intake. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields, library, music rooms, ICT suite and art studios. Sports on offer include tennis, rounders, cricket, football and swimming, while clubs range from coding and eco club to drama, science club and choir. The school has a chapel, which is unusual for a non-religious school. SEND provision covers moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and hearing impairment. For families in Cherwell, Queensway represents a high-performing, oversubscribed option with strong leadership and a wide range of enrichment opportunities.

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