Whitchurch Primary School

About Whitchurch Primary School

Whitchurch Primary School is a small state primary in South Oxfordshire that clearly appeals to local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 42 applications for just 20 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.1. Of those, 22 families put it as their first preference, and 19 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests parents who get to know the school tend to want a place. The school itself is modest in size, with 136 pupils against a capacity of 140, and just 5.9 per cent of children eligible for free school meals. Dawn Chesters is the headteacher. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, with an Outstanding mark for personal development. Behaviour and attitudes, the quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision were all rated Good.

Academically, Whitchurch performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, 85 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 61 per cent. Every single child met the expected standard in both reading and maths, and 100 per cent did so in maths. At the higher standard, 15 per cent achieved the combined measure, with 70 per cent reaching that level in reading and 65 per cent in maths. Average scaled scores were 112 in reading and 111 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the top six per cent of all primaries for its combined expected standard, and within South Oxfordshire it sits sixth out of 48 schools. Its previous Ofsted inspection, back in 2009, rated the school Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating still reflects a strong standing.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, gymnasium, sports hall, outdoor playground and a chapel. Sports on offer include rounders, athletics, tennis, gymnastics, netball and swimming, and there are clubs for chess, gardening, choir and coding. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Whitchurch is a non-denominational school with no religious character. It does not have a nursery or a sixth form. Given its strong academic results, high demand for places and small size, this is a school that will particularly suit families who value solid core subject outcomes and a close-knit environment, though securing a place may require a first-preference application.

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