Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School

Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School is a small, friendly Church of England school with a strong caring ethos. Pupils feel safe, valued and respected, get on well together, and are confident about seeking adult support. They respond positively to high expectations, are polite and articulate, and most behave well in lessons and at playtimes. The school's values and religious character support pupils' personal, social and spiritual development, and trips, clubs and responsibilities enrich school life. Parents speak highly of the school. Leaders have successfully addressed the areas for improvement from the previous inspection. Curriculum content is now clearly identified in most subjects, including reading, writing and mathematics, and training has strengthened staff subject knowledge and improved consistency. Pupils with SEND are identified promptly and supported thoughtfully, reading and phonics are strong, attendance has improved through better-targeted support, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. Governors are knowledgeable and engaged, and staff value the steps taken to manage workload. The main remaining concern is that curriculum development is still ongoing in a few subjects. In these subjects, the essential knowledge pupils need to learn is not as clearly identified, so staff are not consistently clear about what pupils must learn and remember, and pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure that key knowledge is clearly identified and delivered consistently across the curriculum. Overall, the school is performing well and has a sound platform for further development.

Strengths

• Strong pastoral care ensures pupils feel safe, valued and respected.
• Pupils are polite, confident and articulate and respond well to high expectations.
• Pupils get on well together and are confident seeking adult support.
• Staff are committed and work well as a team, creating a cohesive atmosphere.
• The school has successfully addressed the areas for improvement from the previous inspection.
• Children in Reception are well prepared for the key knowledge and skills needed in Year 1.
• Behaviour during lessons and breaktimes is positive, supported by a refined behaviour policy.
• Curriculum content is clearly identified in most subjects, including reading, writing and mathematics.
• Training has strengthened staff subject knowledge and improved curriculum delivery.
• Pupils with SEND are identified promptly and supported thoughtfully and successfully.
• A consistent phonics programme and a love of reading help pupils develop strong reading skills.
• Attendance systems are well targeted and have improved attendance for individual pupils.
• Personal development is well planned, with clubs, responsibilities and trips enriching learning.
• Governors are knowledgeable, engaged and proud of the improvements made.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Areas for Improvement

• In a few subjects, the essential knowledge pupils need to learn is not clearly identified.
• Where curriculum knowledge is unclear, staff are not consistently clear what to teach, so pupils do not learn as well as they could.
• Curriculum development remains ongoing in a few subjects and needs consistent delivery across the curriculum.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School attended 94.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School had 15.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 10.2% of pupils at Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School received £6,860 and spent £7,315 for each of its 108 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £10,000 (-£95 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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• Secondary Schools

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What is Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.

When was Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School was last inspected in September 2025.

How many pupils does Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School have?

Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School has 108 pupils on roll.

What age range does Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School cover?

Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School?

Finchampstead CofE VA Primary School is at The Village, Finchampstead, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 4JR.