SchoolScoresThe Winchcombe School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Maple Crescent, Shaw, Newbury, RG14 1LN
01635 232780 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 10 February 2026 , published 25 March 2026.
In short: 2 expected, 5 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
86 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Newbury comparisons use the 4 of its 28 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 24 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 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 29% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 89% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 29% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 90% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 21% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 80% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied Higher than 54% of 329 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | – | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 77 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 29% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 78% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 24 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 37% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 69% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newbury. Higher than 29% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 19%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
61 pupils in this year group.
51% — 6 points below the West Berkshire average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | West Berkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 51% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 72% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 56% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 79% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 104 | 105 |
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 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 57 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 38 |
| Of those, offered a place | 38 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 123 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.7
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 16 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | West Berkshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 14th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.6% | 16.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 3.5%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 20th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.2% | 15.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.5% | 13.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 21st lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.7% | 4.9%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 23rd lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 30% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 15.6% | 11.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 15th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 33% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.2 | 3.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 16th lowest of 28 state primary schools in Newbury. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 27 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 46% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.3 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 27 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 44% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.4 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 16th highest of 20 state primary schools in Newbury. Higher than 34% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.6% | 17.5%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Speenhamland School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shaw-cum-Donnington CE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), improved significantly 2025 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Nicolas CE Junior School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fir Tree Primary School and Nursery 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John the Evangelist CofE Infant and Nursery School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- The Willows Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- John Rankin Junior School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024, before conversion) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- John Rankin Infant and Nursery School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Winchcombe School's Ofsted rating?
The Winchcombe School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 10 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 expected, 5 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Winchcombe School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Winchcombe School?
85% of the 86 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Winchcombe School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Winchcombe School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 38 families put The Winchcombe School as their first choice for 57 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 38 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 135079.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.