Brookside Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Bucknell Road, Bicester, OX26 2DB

01869 252482 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 25 March 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths58%England 62% · 2024/25
11th highest of 16 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 32% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils306Room for 345 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 325 in 2019, 318 in 2021, 317 in 2022, 314 in 2023, 320 in 2024, 309 in 2025, 306 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.027 for 28 places, September 2026
12th highest of 18 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 44% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 25 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Bicester comparisons use the 6 of its 17 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 11 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolBicesterEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bicester.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 89% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bicester.
Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 92% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bicester.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 88% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 10 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bicester.
Higher than 85% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 46% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 25 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bicester.
Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 74% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bicester.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94%said yes 84% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 12%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bicester figures pool parents at the Bicester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

40 pupils in this year group.

58% — 4 points below the Oxfordshire average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 58% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 3% 9% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 75% 76% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 65% 72% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 75% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 103 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 62%This school 2023/24: 68%This school 2024/25: 58% This school England 62% 2022/23 62% 2023/24 68% 2024/25 58%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Oxfordshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered28
Families who put it first27
Of those, offered a place27 (100%)
Families who listed it at all102

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Oxfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
25.7% 17.0%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
7th highest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.5% 3.8%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
12th highest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.6% 16.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
9th highest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
15.2% 18.6%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
9th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Lower than 47% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.1% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
9th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Lower than 57% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
10.6% 11.8%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
16th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
12.6 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
13th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Lower than 16% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.3% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.32% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
7th highest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 64% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
21.8 20.4 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
10th highest of 17 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 44% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.4 10.0 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Bicester.
Higher than 61% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
15.8% 16.3%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Brookside Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 25 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Brookside Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Brookside Primary School?

94% of the 36 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Brookside Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Brookside Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 27 families put Brookside Primary School as their first choice for 28 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 27 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.