The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
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This is a very small Church of England infant school serving the Lee Common area near Great Missenden, with provision from nursery through to Year 2. The published pattern is deliberately practical, children arrive early, settle quickly, and the day is structured around strong early reading and number work.
Leadership has been stable since early 2023, with Mrs Michelle Green named as headteacher and noted as taking up post in January 2023.
In the most recent full inspection, the school was judged Good across every graded area, and safeguarding was found to be effective.
The defining feature here is scale. Small numbers can change the daily experience in useful ways, adults can pick up quickly on how a child is settling, and routines can be taught with a high level of consistency. That also means relationships matter even more, and families tend to notice the school’s approach to expectations, communication, and behaviour.
A faith ethos sits in the foreground, rather than as a badge. The school frames its Christian vision around “flourishing in body, mind and spirit”, and it lists six values that are meant to show up in classroom and playground life, love, respect, community, perseverance, forgiveness, and truth.
Early years routines are described as purposeful. Children are expected to manage simple independence early on, such as self-registering and organising their things, which tends to suit families who want calm structure rather than a free-flow start to the day.
There are no published, comparable Key Stage 2 results for this school because it is an infant school that educates pupils through the end of Year 2. For parents, the more relevant question is whether the foundations for junior school are secure.
The current picture is a school that prioritises early reading, language development, and number sense. Reading is described as systematically taught, with phonics beginning from Reception and books matched to sounds pupils have learned, alongside rapid support for anyone at risk of falling behind.
It is also worth noting the improvement point raised in the most recent inspection: where parts of the curriculum are newer, the components of knowledge to be learned and remembered are not always specified precisely enough, which can make it harder for pupils to connect new learning to what came before. That is the sort of issue families can probe in conversation, for example, how subject leaders review and refine the newest units.
The strongest evidence sits in the way core learning is sequenced. The curriculum is described as planned from early years through to the end of Key Stage 1, with teaching broken down into smaller steps so knowledge builds securely. For parents, the implication is predictable: children who benefit from routine, clear explanations, and regular checking of understanding are likely to do well.
Mathematics is described through concrete practice, pupils learn number and number bonds in depth before moving into formal addition and subtraction. That sequencing matters because it avoids rushing pupils into written methods before they have secure mental models.
In early years, the evidence points to staff adapting activities to children’s needs and interests, including targeted fine-motor work for writing readiness. This can be particularly valuable in mixed-age or small-cohort settings, where the range of starting points can be wide.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
Because the school is infant-only, pupils typically move on to junior provision for Year 3. In Buckinghamshire, that means families need to think about a second transition point earlier than they would at a combined primary.
Practical implications for parents:
Ask how the school prepares Year 2 pupils for the Year 3 move, including independence routines, writing stamina, and confidence with reading and number.
If your preferred junior school is popular, treat Year 3 admissions planning as an active process rather than an afterthought, since the application route is separate from Reception entry.
Nursery families should also distinguish between nursery attendance and a Reception place. Nursery places are handled by the school, while Reception admissions are coordinated by the local authority, and the Nursery admissions policy is explicit that September nursery spaces depend on the size of the Reception intake.
Reception entry is handled through Buckinghamshire Council rather than directly by the school. For September 2026 entry, the published local authority timeline sets out:
Applications open on 05 November 2025
Deadline is 15 January 2026 at 11:59pm
Offer day is 16 April 2026
Demand indicators suggest that Reception places can be competitive. In the most recently published cycle, there were 31 applications for 5 offers, which is around 6.2 applications per place. That matters in a small school because a handful of additional families can shift outcomes year to year.
Nursery admissions are managed directly by the school. The Nursery admissions policy sets out a waiting-list approach, priority for children living in the local catchment area and for siblings, and a typical timeline where families are informed about September nursery places at the end of April or early May, after the Reception allocation is known.
Applications
31
Total received
Places Offered
5
Subscription Rate
6.2x
Apps per place
Pastoral strength in a small infant school is usually about consistency and calm boundaries, and that is the tone here. Behaviour is described as calm, with pupils focusing well in lessons and showing respect to adults.
A specific, practical wellbeing routine is referenced, pupils practise calm breathing and stillness to help settle thoughts and focus on learning. This is not a gimmick, done well, it can help young children regulate and get ready to learn, especially after lunch or after play.
Inclusion is also framed clearly. The school describes adapting teaching so pupils with special educational needs or disabilities learn the same knowledge as their peers, and the Nursery admissions policy names the SENCo and commits to action planning where needed.
The extracurricular offer looks intentionally small and specific, which fits the age range. The current clubs listing includes:
Gym Club for Reception to Year 2, delivered by Coach Alex from Premier Education
A football club for Years 1 and 2
A lunchtime French club for Years 1 and 2, delivered by Madame Teape via La Jolie Ronde
A separate but important practical point is wraparound provision. The school states that from 02 June 2025 it works with Welldon Kids Club to provide breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school sessions up to 6:00pm. For working families, this is often the deciding factor, and it is clearly set out.
Community events are unusually central and very specific: the school references hosting Maypole dancing for May Day and taking part in local fêtes and shows, which can be a strong fit for families who want school life to connect to village life.
The published school day runs from gates opening at 8:45am to a 3:00pm finish, with registers at 9:00am. Breakfast and after-school wraparound is available via an external provider from 7:45am and up to 6:00pm.
For travel, this is a rural village setting on the edge of the Chilterns; most families will rely on car journeys and local roads, with rail links accessed via Great Missenden for onward travel. (As ever, check current parking and drop-off expectations directly with the school before your first week.)
Very small cohorts. The upside is close adult attention; the trade-off is fewer same-age peers. This suits some children brilliantly, while others prefer the breadth of a larger primary.
Competition for Reception places. Recent demand indicators show significantly more applications than offers. If you are set on this option, apply on time and keep a realistic Plan B.
Curriculum refinement in newer subjects. The latest inspection highlighted that in some newer curriculum areas, learning points are not yet defined precisely enough for all pupils to make strong connections over time. Families who care about breadth should ask how leaders are improving this.
Faith life is part of the identity. The Church of England character is reflected in the school’s vision and values and in links with the church. Families seeking a secular ethos may prefer alternatives.
A small infant school with clear routines, a strong early-reading emphasis, and a community-focused feel. The most recent external judgement supports a picture of calm behaviour, thoughtful pastoral practice, and an ambitious curriculum that is still being sharpened in its newest areas.
Who it suits: families who want a close-knit setting for nursery to Year 2, value a Church of England ethos, and like the idea of structured early learning with wraparound available for working days. The main constraint is places, demand can outstrip supply.
The latest full inspection judged the school Good across all areas and found safeguarding effective. The report describes calm behaviour, strong early reading practice, and an ambitious curriculum, alongside a clear next step to tighten how knowledge is defined in some newer subjects.
Reception applications are coordinated by Buckinghamshire Council. For September 2026 entry, the published deadline is 15 January 2026 and national offer day is 16 April 2026.
The school has Larks Nursery, with admissions handled directly by the school. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place because Reception is allocated through local authority admissions, and nursery places for September depend on the Reception intake.
The school day runs 8:45am to 3:00pm, with registers at 9:00am. Wraparound care is provided via Welldon Kids Club, with breakfast from 7:45am and after-school sessions available up to 6:00pm.
The published clubs list includes a Gym Club, a Years 1 and 2 football club, and a lunchtime French club delivered through La Jolie Ronde. Clubs can change termly, so check the current list before committing.
Get in touch with the school directly
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