Roundwood Primary School

Roundwood Primary School is performing well overall, with all inspected areas meeting at least the expected standard and early years provision judged strong. Safeguarding standards are met. The school, which operates across two sites in neighbouring villages, has a nurturing, community-centred ethos. Leaders have worked systematically since the previous inspection to improve the curriculum and teaching, and current pupils are achieving well, with gaps in knowledge closing quickly, including for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils. Notable strengths include the strong early years provision, effective reading and phonics teaching, positive behaviour, robust inclusion systems, and a carefully considered personal development curriculum. Attendance has improved to be in line with national averages, and leaders' support for pupils with low attendance has had a notable impact. Governance has been strengthened through recent appointments, and staff are positive about leadership and workload. However, some concerns remain. In a few subjects, learning is not organised as well, so teaching is sometimes less precise and pupils do not develop their knowledge as fully as they could. Despite recent improvements, disadvantaged pupils' attainment remains below national in writing and mathematics, with a large disadvantage gap. Overall absence remains above the national average, and leaders are rightly prioritising continued curriculum refinement and attendance support.

Strengths

• Early years provision is strong, with a calm, welcoming atmosphere and close relationships.
• Children benefit from an ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum and highly trained staff.
• Staff prioritise high-quality interactions and children are very well prepared for Year 1.
• Pupils achieve well overall and are ready for the next stages of their education.
• Reading and phonics are particular strengths, with pupils attaining well.
• Leaders have made effective changes to writing and mathematics, with significant positive impact on current pupils.
• Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils build the knowledge and reading fluency they need, and gaps are closing quickly.
• Attendance systems are robust, and support for pupils with low attendance has had a notable impact.
• Behaviour is positive; pupils concentrate well and are kind and cooperative.
• Bullying is not reported, and leaders address unkind behaviour quickly and effectively.
• Inclusion is effective, with swift identification of needs and well-trained staff delivering tailored interventions.
• Leadership and governance are effective, with statutory duties fulfilled and accurate self-evaluation.
• Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the support leaders give to workload and wellbeing.
• Personal development is carefully considered and underpinned by the school's four values.
• Pupils have an excellent understanding of fundamental British values and respect for diversity.
• A highly effective pastoral offer and wide enrichment opportunities support pupils' wellbeing.
• Safeguarding standards are met.

Areas for Improvement

• In a few subjects, learning is not organised as well, so teaching is sometimes less precise.
• Pupils do not develop their knowledge and understanding as well as they could in a few subjects.
• Disadvantaged pupils' attainment remains below national in writing and mathematics, with a large disadvantage gap.
• Overall absence remains above the national average.
• Persistent absence, though improved, remains above the national average.
• Attainment in writing and mathematics has not been as secure over time.

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 Roundwood Primary School attended 93.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.1% 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, 1.1% of pupils at Roundwood 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 Roundwood Primary School had 17.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.3% 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, 9.9% of pupils at Roundwood Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.1% 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 Roundwood Primary School received £7,129 and spent £7,022 for each of its 192 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £34,000 (-£175 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Buckingham · Buckinghamshire local authority: places and applications

What is Roundwood Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Roundwood Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was Roundwood Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Roundwood Primary School was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does Roundwood Primary School have?

Roundwood Primary School has 192 pupils on roll.

What age range does Roundwood Primary School cover?

Roundwood Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Roundwood Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 41% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Roundwood Primary School?

Roundwood Primary School is at Church Street, Gawcott, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 4HY.