SchoolScoresHighwood Copse Primary School
Free school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed
Part of THE THAMES LEARNING TRUST
Highwood Copse Way, Newbury, RG20 9BS
01635 749991 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 October 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
29 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Newbury comparisons use the 15 of its 28 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 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.
| Statement | This school | Newbury | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 92% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 10th highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 44% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 83% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 17 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 45% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 77% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 84% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Newbury figures pool parents at the Newbury 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.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in West Berkshire. 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 39 |
| Of those, offered a place | 28 (72%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 93 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.3
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | West Berkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 19th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 16.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 13th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 3.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 27th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 15.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 18th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 13.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 4th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 82% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.9% | 4.9%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 11.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 20% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.1 | 3.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 27 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 72% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.5 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 27 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 88% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.5 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
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.
Nearby primary schools
- The Willows Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John the Evangelist CofE Infant and Nursery School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Falkland Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- John Rankin Infant and Nursery School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- John Rankin Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024, before conversion) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Nicolas CE Junior School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Speenhamland School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), improved significantly 2025 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Winchcombe School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 5 needs attention · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Highwood Copse Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Highwood Copse Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 October 2023.
Would parents recommend Highwood Copse Primary School?
97% of the 29 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Highwood Copse Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Highwood Copse Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 39 families put Highwood Copse Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 28 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 141882.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.