Freeland Church of England Primary School

Freeland Church of England Primary School is a small, nurturing church school within a multi-academy trust, with nursery provision for two- and three-year-olds. The school is performing securely overall: safeguarding standards are met, and all evaluated areas are at the expected standard. Pupils achieve well, with outcomes above national averages in reading, writing, mathematics and the Year 1 phonics check. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities progress well from their starting points. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on reading, effective early years provision, good attendance, calm and respectful behaviour, and inclusive support for vulnerable pupils. Leaders and governance understand the school well, staff feel valued, and personal development is supported through pastoral care and a wide range of opportunities. The report does not identify any area requiring urgent improvement. The main areas for development are pupils' writing fluency, particularly letter formation and spelling, and inconsistencies in how well staff check pupils' understanding so that gaps are addressed promptly. Pupils' curriculum knowledge is also more detailed in some subjects than others. Leaders are already taking action to address the writing gaps, and some improvements are evident.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well overall, with outcomes above national averages in reading, writing, mathematics and phonics.
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities progress well from their starting points.
• Reading is a priority, with carefully chosen texts and skilled phonics teaching.
• Early years provision gives children a strong start, especially in language and communication.
• Attendance is broadly in line with or above national averages, and leaders act decisively on absence.
• Behaviour is calm and respectful, with positive relationships and little disruption to learning.
• Inclusion is strong: diversity is celebrated and tailored support helps vulnerable pupils access the curriculum.
• Leaders and governance understand the school well and provide constructive challenge.
• Staff wellbeing and professional development are prioritised, creating a valued team ethos.
• Personal development is effective, with strong pastoral support and a wide range of enrichment opportunities.

Areas for Improvement

• Pupils' writing fluency is not yet as developed, particularly their letter formation and spelling.
• Pupils' curriculum knowledge is more detailed in some subject areas than others.
• Staff do not consistently check pupils' understanding well enough to identify and address gaps promptly.
• Some vulnerable pupils still have gaps in letter formation and spelling, although these are closing.

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 Freeland Church of England Primary School attended 95.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.1% 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, 0.8% of pupils at Freeland Church of England 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 Freeland Church of England Primary School had 19.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 43.8% 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, 17.6% of pupils at Freeland Church of England 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 2024–25 Freeland Church of England Primary School received £7,299 and spent £6,755 for each of its 127 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £98,000 (£774 per pupil).

Across all 11 schools of Epa Trust, income was £6,488 and spending £6,675 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Witney · Oxfordshire local authority: places and applications

Freeland Church of England Primary School is part of Epa Trust, which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• Hanborough Manor CofE School Witney
• Bartholomew School Witney
• Eynsham Community Primary School Witney
• St Peter's Church of England Primary School, Cassington Witney
• Stanton Harcourt CofE Primary School Witney
• West Witney Primary School & Nursery Witney
• Standlake Church of England Primary School Standlake
• Heyford Park School Bicester
• Fritwell Church of England Primary School Bicester
• Cropredy Church of England Primary School Banbury

What is Freeland Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Freeland Church of England Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Freeland Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Freeland Church of England Primary School was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Freeland Church of England Primary School have?

Freeland Church of England Primary School has 131 pupils on roll.

What age range does Freeland Church of England Primary School cover?

Freeland Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Freeland Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Freeland Church of England Primary School?

Freeland Church of England Primary School is at Parklands, Freeland, Freeland Primary School, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 8HX.