Welford and Wickham C.E. Primary School

About Welford and Wickham C.E. Primary School

Welford and Wickham C.E. Primary School is a small Church of England primary in West Berkshire that parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 18 applications for just 7 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.57. All 7 first-preference families were offered a spot, but with more than two and a half applicants for every place, it is a competitive choice. The school has a total capacity of 105 pupils but currently has just 62 on roll, so while demand is high for Reception places, the school is not yet full across all year groups. The headteacher is Joanna Lagares, and the school serves children aged 5 to 11. It is a mixed, state-funded primary with a religious character, and 17.7 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly above the national average for primary schools.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, confirmed in its most recent ungraded inspection in June 2024, where inspectors judged that it remains Good. The previous graded inspection in 2019 also rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management and early years provision both Good. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 56 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just below the West Berkshire local authority average of 57 per cent. In maths, 89 per cent of pupils achieved the expected standard and 22 per cent reached the higher standard, with an average score of 106. Reading saw 78 per cent at expected and 22 per cent at higher, with an average score of 104. Writing was weaker, with 56 per cent at expected and 11 per cent at higher. The school ranks 30th out of 57 primary schools in West Berkshire on this combined measure, placing it in the bottom half of the local authority.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, dining hall, ICT suite, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, athletics, gymnastics, football, cricket and rounders, and there are clubs such as science club, drama and coding. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With only 62 pupils, class sizes are likely to be small, which can suit families who want a close-knit, village-school feel with strong community ties. The school is not a boarding school and does not have a sixth form or nursery provision. Given its oversubscription, families applying should be prepared for competition, particularly for Reception places, and may want to consider it as a first preference to maximise their chances.

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