The Winchcombe School

About The Winchcombe School

The Winchcombe School is a popular choice among local families, with 149 applications for just 59 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.53. Of those, 56 first-preference offers were made from 61 first-preference applications, indicating strong demand. The school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage in the data, but the high level of competition for places suggests a solid reputation. The school is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision available, and is located in West Berkshire. Headteacher Matt Percy leads a school that is larger than its capacity, with 445 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. The school has a non-religious character and 16.4 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its previous inspection in 2009. In its most recent ungraded inspection in November 2021, inspectors confirmed the school remains Good. The most recent Key Stage 2 results from 2023/24 show that 58 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just above the West Berkshire local authority average of 57 per cent. However, only 5 per cent reached the higher standard in all three subjects. In individual subjects, 77 per cent met the expected standard in maths, 72 per cent in reading, and 67 per cent in writing. The school’s average scaled scores were 106 in maths and 105 in reading. Nationally, the school ranks in the 60th percentile for KS2 outcomes, and within West Berkshire it sits 26th out of 67 primary schools.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including playing fields, a sports hall, an ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, and a forest school, which supports outdoor learning. Sports on offer include football, cricket, dance, cross country, rounders and athletics, and there are clubs such as coding, drama, art, film and book club. The school has a strong SEND provision, with support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is also a resourced provision. The school is oversubscribed, so families should ensure they apply by the deadline and consider their catchment area. This is a solid, well-regarded primary that suits families looking for a Good-rated school with a wide range of activities and strong SEND support, particularly those within commuting distance of Newbury or Reading.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The Winchcombe School

Helpful Guides for Parents