Whixall CofE Primary School

About Whixall CofE Primary School

Whixall CofE Primary School is a Church of England state primary in Shropshire, serving 155 pupils from age 2 to 11. Within the local authority, it sits at rank 66 out of 88 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half of the county's schools when measured by the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The top-performing peers in Shropshire include Stottesdon CofE Primary School, St Lucia's CofE Primary School & Nursery, and Minsterley Primary School, all of which score significantly higher on the same ranking metric. Whixall's most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in February 2025, judged the school as Good overall, with Good ratings for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. However, the early years provision was rated as Requires Improvement, a notable point for families with younger children. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 31 applications for 16 places and 14 first-preference offers, indicating strong local demand.

In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 50% of Whixall pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, which is below the Shropshire local authority average of 59%. The school's ranking score of 50 places it in the bottom 50 nationally. Looking at individual subjects, reading was a relative strength: 88% of pupils reached the expected standard and 31% achieved a higher standard, with an average score of 106. Maths was weaker, with 69% at the expected standard and an average score of 104. Writing saw 56% at the expected standard. Only 13% of pupils reached the higher standard in both reading, writing and maths combined. The school has held a Good Ofsted rating across both its recent inspections, though the previous graded inspection took place in 2013. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 98% of respondents would recommend the school, and 83% strongly agreed that their child is happy there.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, library, music rooms, sensory room, outdoor playground, gymnasium, art studios, ICT suite and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, tennis, cross country and rounders, while clubs include science, gardening and chess. The school provides nursery provision for younger children and has identified SEND support for moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, and other difficulties or disabilities. Notably, the Parent View survey received no responses from families of children with SEND, so it is difficult to gauge satisfaction in that area from the data. With 9.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively mixed catchment. Whixall is a good fit for families who prioritise a strong sense of community and positive pastoral care, as reflected in the parent survey, and who are comfortable with a school where academic outcomes are below the local average but where reading provision stands out.

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