The Elms Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of CAMBRIAN LEARNING TRUST

The Elms, Gloucester Street, Faringdon, SN7 7HZ

01367 240232 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 13 May 2025
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths61%England 62% · 2024/25
4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 39% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils251Room for 420 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 339 in 2019, 337 in 2021, 338 in 2022, 428 in 2023, 373 in 2024, 304 in 2025, 251 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.334 for 27 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 93% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 13 May 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

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

Faringdon comparisons use the 3 of its 7 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 4 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 schoolFaringdonEngland
My child is happy at this school
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Faringdon.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 94% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Faringdon.
Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 89% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Faringdon.
Higher than 24% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 80% 84%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 41 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Faringdon.
Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 79% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Faringdon.
Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89%said yes 88% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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. Faringdon figures pool parents at the Faringdon 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

90 pupils in this year group.

61% — about the same as the Oxfordshire average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 61% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 8% 9% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 76% 76% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 70% 72% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 76% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 63%This school 2023/24: 50%This school 2024/25: 61% This school England 62% 2022/23 63% 2023/24 50% 2024/25 61%

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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered27
Families who put it first34
Of those, offered a place25 (74%)
Families who listed it at all81

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Oxfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
21.7% 17.0%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.6% 3.8%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
19.4% 16.2%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.6% 18.6%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
5th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Lower than 46% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.1% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
7th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Lower than 24% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
16.8% 11.8%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Lower than 45% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.3 3.3 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
6th lowest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Lower than 39% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.0% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 35% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
19.3 20.4 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 6th highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 17% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
8.7 10.0 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 7 state primary schools in Faringdon.
Higher than 57% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
14.5% 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 The Elms Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 13 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did The Elms Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend The Elms Primary School?

89% of the 54 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Elms Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Elms Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put The Elms Primary School as their first choice for 27 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 25 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.