Kingham Primary School Review 2026: High-performing village primary with standout early years

Set in rural Oxfordshire, this is a compact, seven year-group primary with a nursery from age 3 and one-form entry into Reception. Its setting is a major part of its identity, the school grounds include a garden, a wild flower area, woodland, and a large playing field, which gives teachers plenty of scope to take learning beyond the classroom where it adds value.

Academic outcomes are a defining strength. In 2024, 92.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, far above the England average of 62%. The school’s primary outcomes rank 369th in England and 1st in the Chipping Norton area in the FindMySchool ranking based on official data.

Leadership is stable, Mr Nicholas Prockter has been headteacher since the start of 2021.

A small-village school can feel either limited or tightly connected, this one is clearly aiming for the latter. The school presents itself as a place where staff know families well, and where routines and expectations are clear, which matters in a setting that spans nursery to Year 6.

The outdoor environment is not positioned as a marketing extra. The garden, wild flower area and woodland are referenced as part of the everyday setting, alongside the larger playing field. For pupils, that typically translates into more frequent outdoor learning opportunities, stronger links between science, geography and practical fieldwork, and more space for structured play at breaktimes.

Leadership messaging is unusually explicit for a primary. The headteacher appointment announcement confirms Nicholas Prockter’s start from January 2021, and his biography frames his experience across large primary settings and international education. For parents, the practical implication is a leadership team likely to be comfortable with systems, consistency, and a clear curriculum model, rather than an informal, ad hoc approach.

The headline measure most parents care about at primary is the combined reading, writing and maths outcome at Key Stage 2. In 2024, 92.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. That gap is substantial, and it is consistent with the rest of the published picture.

The higher standard data reinforces that this is not simply a school lifting pupils over the expected threshold. In 2024, 50% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, versus an England average of 8%. Writing outcomes are also strong, with 47% working at greater depth.

Rankings align with the results. Ranked 369th in England and 1st in the Chipping Norton area for primary outcomes, this places the school well above England average, within the top 10% of schools in England, based on the FindMySchool ranking derived from official data.

Scaled scores in reading and maths are both 111, with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 111. While scaled scores do not always translate neatly into “how far ahead” a child is, they do support the broader pattern, pupils are leaving Year 6 with secure core skills. That has a direct effect on secondary transition, students who arrive with fluent reading comprehension and confident numeracy are far better placed to access a full secondary curriculum from day one.

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these results alongside nearby primaries using the Comparison Tool, which is often the quickest way to see whether a strong headline is also reflected across the underlying measures.

A clear curriculum structure sits behind the results. The school describes a broad and balanced programme aligned with the National Curriculum, taught through termly themes that are intended to engage children and allow teachers to respond to pupils’ interests and needs. The strength of that model is coherence, it can help pupils connect learning across subjects rather than treating them as isolated compartments.

Specialist input is also built into the timetable. Pupils receive music and sports tuition each week from external specialist teachers, and there is support referenced from a computing advisory teacher and special educational needs and disability coordinators. The implication for parents is that enrichment is not purely dependent on after-school clubs, some of it is embedded within the school day, which typically improves access for pupils who cannot stay late.

Curriculum documentation suggests an enquiry-led approach in foundation subjects. For example, the published history intent references using artefacts, photographs, written documents, eyewitness accounts and videos to help pupils form opinions based on evidence. In classroom terms, that approach tends to build stronger writing stamina and reasoning because pupils are asked to justify conclusions rather than repeat facts.

At primary, “destinations” are less about statistics and more about sensible transition routes. The school states that pupils move on to a range of local secondary schools, including The Chipping Norton School, Burford School, The Cotswold Academy, and the nearby independent Kingham Hill School. For families, that range matters because it signals that the school serves a broad local area rather than feeding one single secondary by default.

If your child is likely to move into a particular secondary, it is worth asking specifically how transition is handled, for example, shared projects with partner primaries, additional support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, and how Year 6 routines prepare pupils for increased independence. The school is part of the Chipping Norton Partnership of Schools, which runs shared events such as sports tournaments, art and topic days, dance festivals and concerts, and that kind of partnership often helps children feel more confident about moving on.

Demand is the key story. For the main Reception entry route, the school is oversubscribed. In the most recent admissions dataset provided, there were 84 applications for 29 offers, which equates to 2.9 applications per place. The proportion of first preferences relative to offers is 1.28, suggesting that a meaningful share of applicants are actively targeting the school rather than listing it as a lower preference.

Reception admissions are coordinated by Oxfordshire County Council. For September 2026 entry, the county timetable shows applications opening on 4 November 2025 and closing on 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026 and responses due by 30 April 2026. Parents should treat these as the critical dates, and assume a similar pattern for future years unless the local authority changes the process.

Nursery admissions work differently. Nursery places are managed directly by the school, and the school is explicit that a nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place. This is important for planning, families using the nursery should still apply through the local authority process for Reception entry.

For shortlisting, the most practical step is to use FindMySchoolMap Search to understand precise distance from the school compared with recent allocation patterns. Even where a published “last distance offered” is not available, accurate mapping helps families make decisions about realistic options.

The most recent inspection profile points to a school that combines academic ambition with strong behaviour norms. The latest Ofsted inspection (2 July 2024) judged the school Good overall.

Ofsted rated Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding and Personal development Outstanding, with Early years provision also Outstanding, which suggests that pupils are supported to develop positive routines early, and that standards hold through the school.

Wraparound care staffing also supports continuity. Breakfast Club and the after-school provision are staffed by teaching assistants or lunchtime supervisors who already work in the school, which can reduce the “two different rules” problem children sometimes experience when clubs are run by an entirely separate organisation.

Extracurricular provision is structured around both wraparound care and optional clubs. Breakfast Club runs from 7.45am, and the after-school club runs until 5.15pm, both designed to support working families as well as pupils who enjoy staying for a longer day.

The wider after-school activities menu changes by term and is delivered through a mix of teaching assistants, specialist staff and parent volunteers. The school lists examples that have included art, archery, coding, construction, cookery, French, gardening, golf, hockey and tennis. The practical implication is variety rather than a fixed “signature” programme, children who commit across the year are likely to sample creative, practical and sporting options rather than staying within one lane.

A further strength is that some enrichment sits inside the timetable rather than after school. Weekly music and sports tuition from specialist teachers means that pupils who cannot attend clubs still benefit from structured physical education and musical development as part of the normal week.

The school day begins with children assembling from 8.35am, with the bell at 8.45am; the school day ends at 3.15pm. Morning break is 10.30am to 10.45am, and lunchtime starts earlier for Reception than for older year groups.

Wraparound care runs from 7.45am to 5.15pm through Breakfast Club and the afternoon club, with collection from classrooms at 3.15pm for those staying on.

For travel, the school notes that many families walk or cycle. Parking is limited, with spaces in the free parish car park adjacent to the school and additional parking on Churchill Road. A school bus also operates for families who need it.

• Competition for Reception places. With 84 applications for 29 offers in the latest dataset, demand outstrips supply. Families should treat admission as a key uncertainty, and keep realistic back-up options.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. Nursery places are managed directly by the school, but the school is explicit that nursery attendance does not secure a primary place. Plan for two separate processes.

• Open events can be limited and bookable. Open mornings for September 2026 entry were scheduled in late autumn, with booking required and limited spaces. Families should expect a similar pattern for future intakes and monitor dates early.

• Rural logistics. Walking and cycling may work for some, but parking is described as limited and managed across village options. If you are reliant on driving at peak times, test the practicalities as part of your decision.

This is a high-performing state primary with a strong early years profile and a well-organised approach to learning through to Year 6. Results place it comfortably within the top 10% of schools in England, and the inspection profile suggests standards are supported by excellent behaviour and personal development.

Best suited to families who value strong academic foundations alongside outdoor space and a structured school day, and who can engage early with a competitive admissions process.