Windmill Primary School and Nursery

About Windmill Primary School and Nursery

Parents at Windmill Primary School and Nursery are overwhelmingly positive, with 93% of respondents in the most recent Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. The feedback is particularly strong on wellbeing: 99% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 98% felt their child is safe. The school is clearly in high demand — for the 2025/26 intake, it received 92 applications for just 21 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.38 to one. All 18 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but with such a high ratio overall, securing a spot is competitive. Parents also report that the school supports wider personal development well, with 85% agreeing or strongly agreeing on that front, and 97% say their child can take part in clubs and activities. The only notable area of concern is SEND support, where 31% of parents disagreed that children get the support they need, though 69% agreed or strongly agreed.

Academically, Windmill performs solidly above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Wokingham local authority average of 70%. The school ranks 13th out of 34 primary schools in the borough, placing it in the top 25% nationally by this measure. In individual subjects, 77% met the expected standard in both reading and maths, with average scores of 106 in each — slightly above the national benchmark of 100. Writing was stronger still, with 83% reaching the expected level. At the higher standard, 47% of pupils achieved in reading and 37% in maths, though only 13% did so in writing and the combined measure. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in February 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained, and its graded inspection from May 2016 rated overall effectiveness as Good, with Good marks for leadership and management and early years provision.

Windmill is a smaller-than-average primary with 197 pupils against a capacity of 210, and it includes a nursery for children aged two and above. The school offers a good range of facilities, including music rooms, art studios, a sports hall, outdoor playground and a forest school, plus a chapel. Sports on offer include tennis, cricket, netball, swimming, football and cross country, and there are clubs such as science, film and chess. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 18.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. This is a school that suits families who value strong pastoral care and a broad extracurricular offer, but oversubscription means early application is essential. For those seeking an Outstanding-rated school, the nearest is Walter Infant School, half a kilometre away.

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