St Blaise CofE Primary School

About St Blaise CofE Primary School

St Blaise CofE Primary School is a small Church of England primary in the Vale of White Horse, with 144 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210 — meaning it’s operating at just over two-thirds full. That spare capacity isn’t for lack of demand, though. For the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 73 applications for 20 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 3.65 applicants per place. Of those, 19 were first-preference offers, suggesting strong local interest. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22.9%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% — so the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake compared with many in the area. This context matters when looking at its academic results, as the school’s outcomes need to be read against the challenges its pupils bring through the gate.

In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, carried out in November 2014 and published the following month, St Blaise was rated Good overall, with Good marks for leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour and attitudes. That’s a significant improvement from its previous inspection in January 2013, when it was judged to require improvement. An ungraded inspection in April 2024 confirmed the school remains Good. At Key Stage 2, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — below the local authority average of 61%. However, the school’s average scaled scores in reading (103) and maths (102) are close to the national benchmark of 100, and 13% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. Progress scores aren’t available, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds, but the raw results place it in the bottom half of primary schools nationally.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a music room, ICT suite, dining hall, chapel and an outdoor playground. Sports provision covers dance, athletics, rounders, netball, swimming and tennis, while clubs include science, chess and coding. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and autistic spectrum disorder — useful for families whose children need extra support. The school is oversubscribed, so anyone considering it should be aware that first-preference applications matched offers exactly, meaning it’s competitive but not impossibly so. For families who value a small, church-affiliated primary with a diverse intake and a clear improvement trajectory from its previous inspection, St Blaise is a realistic option — though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to look at higher-performing peers in the area.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Blaise CofE Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents