Farley Hill Primary School Review 2026: High-performing primary with a growing early years offer in Arborfield Green

A primary that has expanded alongside the Arborfield Green development, with a clear emphasis on teamwork and structured learning. The most recent published key stage 2 outcomes are exceptionally strong: 90% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. That performance sits comfortably within the top 25% of primaries in England (25th to 60th percentile), based on FindMySchool’s rankings using official data.

Leadership and stability matter here. Mrs Jane Bateman was appointed headteacher in April 2022, during a period of site change and rising pupil numbers. The latest Ofsted inspection (3 to 4 June 2025) confirmed the school maintained its standards, with safeguarding judged effective.

For families weighing Reception or nursery entry, the headline is demand. In the most recent admissions cycle provided, there were 138 applications for 60 Reception places, so competition is real, even before you get into designated area detail.

TEAM, shorthand for Together Everyone Achieves More, is more than a slogan. It shows up in how the school talks about learning and how pupils are expected to behave with one another. The most recent external picture describes pupils as happy and safe, with calm behaviour, clear routines, and a culture where children learn and play across age groups.

The setting is modern and deliberately designed for a growing roll. In September 2021, the school relocated to a new purpose-built site in Arborfield Green after 96 years at its previous location. This context is useful, because it explains why the school has felt like a school in motion over the past few years, with new spaces, a changing cohort profile, and expansion plans that continue to evolve.

Early years is a visible part of school life rather than an add-on. Woodlands Nursery opened in September 2022, and the nursery team is clearly identified, including an Early Years Lead alongside early years practitioners. The nursery’s session model and multiple intakes through the year can suit families who want entry points beyond September, although it also means you should plan ahead if you are aiming for a specific start term.

This is a state primary, so the fairest way to judge results is to look at the published key stage 2 measures and compare them to England averages.

Combined attainment at the expected standard is extremely high

In the latest results provided, 90.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. This is the single statistic most parents care about, because it captures whether pupils are broadly secure across the core.

Depth is also a strength

At the higher standard, 26.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths combined, versus an England average of 8%. That matters for families whose child is already working above age-related expectations, because it suggests the school is not only lifting the middle but also stretching the top end.

Scaled scores back up the picture

Reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled scores were 108, with maths at 106. Scaled scores are designed so 100 represents the national reference point, so these figures imply pupils are, on average, ahead of typical national performance in these tests.

Rankings context (FindMySchool)

Ranked 2,586th in England and 28th in Reading for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). This is strong performance in a way that is meaningful for parents, it indicates quality is not dependent on a single standout cohort.

The curriculum is described as carefully sequenced from early years through to Year 6, with clear attention to vocabulary and building knowledge over time. The most consistent strength is reading, with phonics taught through a chosen programme, books matched closely to the sounds pupils are learning, and quick additional help for pupils who need it. The practical implication for families is that the early stages of learning to read should feel systematic and well monitored, rather than left to chance.

Classroom practice leans towards structure. Lessons are expected to be well planned, with regular revisiting of prior learning and clear feedback. There is also an honest developmental edge: in some areas, challenge is not always as precise as it could be, which can mean pupils occasionally move through work that is not as demanding as it should be. For parents, this is the kind of detail to probe on a tour, particularly if your child is consistently ahead and needs sustained stretch across all subjects, not just the core.

Special educational needs and disabilities are identified early, with support designed to keep pupils fully involved in school life. Where needs are highly complex, leaders are described as taking decisive action so pupils are supported and achieve well. The point here is not the label, it is the responsiveness of the system and whether support is integrated into daily learning rather than separated out.

As a primary with nursery provision through to Year 6, the key transition is to Year 7. Families in this part of Berkshire often have choices across local authority boundaries, especially given the school’s Reading address but Wokingham admissions authority. Wokingham Borough Council advises families to use its designated area mapping and to consider nearest schools, which may include schools in neighbouring boroughs.

In practical terms, one obvious local option for many Arborfield Green families is Bohunt School Wokingham, an 11 to 16 secondary in the same broader development area, although your priority will depend on designated area rules and the pattern of applications in a given year. The school’s transition preparation is described as covering academic, social and emotional readiness, which is exactly what parents should want from a Year 6 experience.

Reception entry is coordinated through Wokingham Borough Council. For September 2026 entry, the published key dates are clear: applications open 13 November 2025; the closing date is 15 January 2026; offers are sent 16 April 2026; and the deadline to respond to an offer is 1 May 2026. Appeals have a published submission deadline for being heard together.

Demand is a defining feature. In the most recent entry data provided, there were 138 applications for 60 offers, equating to 2.3 applications per place, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. A first preference pressure indicator of 1.37 suggests that first-choice demand exceeded available places, even before considering later preferences.

Because distance figures are not available here, the sensible approach is to focus on designated area rules and the order of priorities in the admissions arrangements. Families should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check their address against the relevant boundary and to sense-check how competitive the area feels year to year, then confirm details with the local authority’s published arrangements.

Nursery admissions operate differently. Woodlands Nursery offers multiple intakes (commonly September, January and April), and the school publishes a nursery application form and nursery admissions information. For parents, the key question is whether nursery attendance gives any priority for Reception. You should check the admissions policy carefully, because in most state systems nursery does not guarantee a Reception place.

Pastoral systems appear purposeful rather than performative. Behaviour is described as calm and orderly, with staff trained to support pupils who struggle to manage behaviour, and a culture that allows pupils to concentrate and participate in lessons. This matters in day-to-day terms, it usually shows up in smoother lessons, fewer disruptions, and more teaching time.

Attendance has been an explicit improvement focus, with enhanced tracking and support for parents and carers described as leading to improvement, albeit still at an early stage. For families, this points to a school that is actively managing a common post-pandemic challenge rather than ignoring it.

The enrichment offer has both school-run and partner-led strands, which is increasingly common in growing primary schools.

On the school side, the most recent inspection describes clubs such as choir, yoga and cooking, alongside a broader range of enrichment and trips. The implication is that pupils can build confidence and social skills beyond lessons, not only through sport but also through creative and wellbeing-focused options.

The school also publishes a termly programme of after-school clubs that includes options such as chess, choir and drama, plus activities delivered by external providers. Examples listed include multi-sports and football, street dance, Lego, and martial arts. For parents, this mix can be a genuine practical advantage, because it lets you build a week that matches your child’s interests without relying solely on weekends. The trade-off is that partner-led clubs can have separate booking rules and costs, so it is worth checking how the logistics work for your family.

School day (Reception to Year 6)

gates open at 8.30am, lessons run from 8.45am to 3.15pm, with a morning break and staggered lunch times for younger and older pupils.

Nursery sessions

morning and afternoon sessions are published, and the school operates a session model aligned to funded early education entitlements for eligible families. Nursery fee details should be checked on the school’s official information, as these can vary by entitlement and hours taken.

Wraparound care

breakfast club and after-school club are run on site, with morning coverage from 7.30am and after-school provision extending into early evening on most weekdays. Charges are published per session and vary by time used.

Facilities

the current site includes specialist spaces such as a dance studio and a food technology room, plus extensive playground equipment and access to a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) owned by the local authority.

• Oversubscription pressure. With 138 applications for 60 places in the latest data provided, entry is competitive. If you are applying for Reception, plan early, understand the designated area rules, and have realistic alternatives in mind.

• A school still scaling up. The school moved site in September 2021 and continues to grow, with a structure that has been expanding through the lower years first. Rapid growth can be positive, but it also brings change in staffing patterns, cohort size, and routines as systems mature.

• Challenge consistency. External findings highlight strong teaching overall, while also noting that challenge can occasionally be less precise in some subjects. Parents of highly able pupils should ask how stretch is planned across foundation subjects, not only in English and maths.

• Wraparound and clubs have their own rules. On-site wraparound is a real benefit, and the club menu is broad, but booking deadlines and partner-provider arrangements can affect flexibility for busy families.

Farley Hill Primary School pairs a clear values message with results that are far above typical England benchmarks, especially in combined expected standard attainment and in higher-standard performance. It suits families who want a structured, high-performing primary with nursery and wraparound options, and who value a strong reading focus alongside broad enrichment. The limiting factor is admission rather than education, so a successful application strategy matters as much as school fit.