SchoolScoresParsons Down Infant School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 7 · Mixed
Herons Way, Thatcham, RG19 3SR
01635 866700 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 15 January 2019.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 21 May 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
32 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Thatcham comparisons use the 6 of its 13 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 | Thatcham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thatcham. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 89% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thatcham. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thatcham. Higher than 20% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 81% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 24 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thatcham. Higher than 27% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 70% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Thatcham. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 81% | 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. Thatcham figures pool parents at the Thatcham 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 | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 38 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (76%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 69 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 10th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.9% | 16.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 3.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.6% | 15.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.2% | 13.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 13th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.5% | 4.9%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 11.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Lower than 24% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 11th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Lower than 8% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Higher than 38% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.6 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 13 state primary schools in Thatcham. Higher than 24% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.2 | 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
- Parsons Down Junior School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitelands Park Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thatcham Park CofE Primary 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fir Tree Primary School and Nursery 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Spurcroft Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Francis Baily Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Finian's Catholic Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cold Ash St Mark's CE Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Willows Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Parsons Down Infant School's Ofsted rating?
Parsons Down Infant School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 15 January 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 21 May 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Would parents recommend Parsons Down Infant School?
88% of the 32 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Parsons Down Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Parsons Down Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 38 families put Parsons Down Infant School as their first choice for 29 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 29 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 109875.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.