Woodford Valley Church of England Aided School

About Woodford Valley Church of England Aided School

Woodford Valley Church of England Aided School is a small primary in Wiltshire that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear sign of its local reputation. With 197 pupils on roll against a capacity of 164, the school is operating well above its official limit. Its intake is notably less disadvantaged than the national average: just 5.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a typical primary figure of around 23% across England. The school received 45 applications for 26 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.73, and all 25 first-preference applicants were offered a place. This level of demand suggests that families in the area are actively choosing Woodford Valley, and the school's Church of England character may also be a draw for some. The headteacher is Donna Young, who leads a mixed-gender school for children aged 4 to 11.

Academically, Woodford Valley performs very strongly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the Wiltshire local authority average of 58%. The school ranks 9th out of 159 primary schools in the county, placing it in the top 5% locally, and 482nd nationally out of 13,686 schools. In maths, every single pupil met the expected standard, and 63% achieved the higher standard. Reading and writing also saw strong results, with 100% reaching the expected level in reading and 54% hitting the higher mark. Average scaled scores were 110 in reading and 111 in maths. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025 judged it Good across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in November 2022, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a library, playing fields, sports hall, sensory room, ICT suite, forest school area, outdoor playground and a chapel. Sports on offer include netball, cross country, gymnastics and tennis, while clubs range from eco club and science club to drama, book club, film club and chess. For children with additional needs, the school provides support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 100% of the 63 respondents to the Ofsted Parent View questionnaire would recommend the school, and 95% said their child is happy there, with 78% strongly agreeing. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in a Church of England setting and who are willing to compete for a place in a popular, oversubscribed village primary.

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