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Best primary schools in Oxford and Oxfordshire

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Best primary schools in Oxford

Best primary schools near Abingdon

Best primary schools in Banbury and Bicester

Best primary schools near Henley and Wallingford

Best primary schools near Stadhampton

Best primary schools in west Oxfordshire

Special Educational Needs

Our article on primary school admissions sets out the application process and advises on the best ways to build a thorough understanding of your preferred schools.

Beware tiny village schools, where year groups are mixed. It’s not a problem, especially if teaching staff are experienced, until your child’s already limited peer-group starts leaving for prep schools at which point things could get claustrophobic.

Many primary schools – more than 100, across the county – are Church of England, but you don’t usually need to be an active churchgoer and these schools will take children of all faiths or none. Read admissions policies carefully, though, as sometimes having an active role within the parish is one of the criteria that will get you to the front of the queue. With one eye on secondary education, look out for partnership primaries whose pupils get priority admissions to the local comprehensive.

Primary schools in Oxford

Traffic ensures that families don’t stray far: if you can’t bike there, it’s not viable. In leafy north Oxford, St Philip and St James’ (Phil and Jim) is where academics’ children go; most live in catchment for The Cherwell School afterwards (though many put their politics to one side and go private from year 7). Nearby St Aloysius' Primary is Catholic, attracting a more European crowd. In Headington, Windmill Primary or St Andrews are where those brainy doctors send their kids. With a three-form entry, Windmill is bigger than most. St Andrews is split across two sites, with reception at Headington Quarry. 

Best state secondary schools in Oxford

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Primary schools near Abingdon

More Witney-way, Brize Norton Primary School takes the prize for best SATS results; a quarter of its families are involved with the RAF (though the rest are also de facto experts in chinooks). Towards Faringdon, Buckland Church of England Primary School is very popular, with long-standing leadership and fewer children leaving for local preps. Commutable to Oxford, Cumnor Church of England Primary School has a catchment that wiggles up around the nature reserve and to Cumnor Hill – last year you had to be within two miles, even in catchment (ducklings on the reservoir would’ve been in by a quack…). In this area of Oxfordshire, you should also be reading about Oxford because you’re in touching distance of the city itself from here.

All-through Europa School UK is bilingual, with children allocated Spanish, French or German streams on entry in reception. Attracts a predominantly, though not exclusively, international crowd, delighted to have discovered a little pocket of Europe on the outskirts of Abingdon. Three catchments areas, one around the school and the others in central Oxford and near Wantage, and a school bus for even the tinies.

Best state secondary schools near Abingdon

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Primary schools near Banbury and Bicester

Great Tew County Primary, conveniently placed for your post-drop cappuccino at Soho Farmhouse, is the glossy posse’s destination of choice; super SATS results to boot. Many rent nearby to secure a spot. Mixed-age classes from year 1; one or two arrive on ponies. It’s too cosy for some, who fly off to prep schools from year 2 onwards. Dr Radcliffe’s Church of England Primary continues to be oversubscribed – maybe because the playground opposite is the best in the area? You’ll need to live within two miles to be confident of a place, but Deddington Primary, up the road, provides another excellent option with more outdoor space than most. 

Best state secondary schools in Banbury and Bicester

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Best nurseries in Banbury and Bicester

Primary schools near Henley and Wallingford

Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Church of England Primary School is lovely and relatively big, with an entry of 30, though it loses a few to Moulsford Prep and other local preps from year 3. Ewelme CofE Primary School is a long-standing favourite (you’ll need to be in the village or an ‘active member’ of the parish); lots look at Watlington Primary School, too - be aware that not everyone in catchment gets in.

Best state secondary schools near Henley and Wallingford

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Best nurseries near Henley and Wallingford

Primary schools near Stadhampton

Marsh Baldon Church of England Primary School is super, though many use it as a pre-prep. Pupils at Great Milton Church of England Primary School get great SATS results and have found recent success at national dance competitions; you can expect an offer from anywhere in the Miltons and Haseleys. Garsington Church of England Primary School is reassuringly over-subscribed, sitting in the heart of a pretty village; if you live there, you’ll be safely in Wheatley Park’s catchment. Cross the motorway to Long Crendon Primary School, where our reviewer found, ‘staggering commitment to outdoor learning’, ‘engaging’ teaching and a ‘values-driven’ community; see our Bucks Area Guide for more details.

Best state secondary schools near Stadhampton

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Primary schools in west Oxfordshire

Beautiful Kingham Primary is nestled between village green and open countryside; Daylesford is to Kingham what Soho Farmhouse is to Great Tew, so expect some shiny cars. You’ll need to be within four miles for a fighting chance of a place. Great Rollright and Chadlington Church of England primaries are highly thought of and tiny, with intakes of 15. Children at Woodstock Church of England Primary enjoy gazillions of extra-curriculars and their own woodland area, in a residential part of town away from the Blenheim busloads.

Best state secondary schools in west Oxfordshire

Best private schools in west Oxfordshire

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State schools for children with special educational needs in Oxford and Oxfordshire

Most children with special needs attend mainstream schools in Oxfordshire, some of which have a specialist base. St Nicholas Primary School, in Marston, has a resource provision for children with autism and another for children with hearing impairment. St Andrew’s School, Chinnor supports children with an EHCP and a diagnosis of communication and interaction needs.

Special schools throughout the county tend to be through-schools to the age of 18, eg Mabel Prichard School (Blackbird Leys) and The Iffley Academy (Oxford). John Watson School (Wheatley) and Frank Wise School (Banbury) support severe, complex or profound learning difficulties. Kingfisher School in Abingdon and Fitzwaryn School in Wantage are both special schools for children from nursery to 19 who have a range of complex learning needs, including autism. 

Mainstream or special, find out about your education options from Oxfordshire County Council’s SEND local offer.

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