Oaklands Primary Academy

Oaklands Primary Academy has been rated as 'Requires Improvement' in all areas during its recent inspection. Despite the headteacher and trustees being committed to enhancing the educational experience for pupils, the school is currently facing challenges in delivering a coherent curriculum that effectively builds knowledge over time. Staff are described as approachable and dedicated, contributing to a positive environment where pupils feel safe and supported. However, there are significant gaps in the curriculum sequencing and clarity of teaching expectations, particularly affecting special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) students and early learners. This has resulted in a lack of consistent understanding and fluency in key subjects like phonics and mathematics. The school has identified the individual needs of SEND pupils effectively and provides some additional support; however, the curriculum's implementation is inconsistent, leading to missed opportunities for reinforcing important knowledge. Pupils enjoy engaging in various clubs and activities, promoting personal development, but the overall effectiveness of mentoring regarding healthy choices and relationships needs to be fortified. Attendance rates are a focus for improvement as the school aims to create a more structured and supportive learning environment.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and enjoy their time at school.
• Staff are approachable and kind, fostering positive relationships.
• The school provides a broad curriculum that includes SEND support.
• Pupils participate in a variety of extracurricular activities.
• The school promotes values that encourage positive behavior.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum sequencing does not clearly set out key knowledge for pupil learning.
• Phonics teaching lacks regular practice for pupils to reinforce sounds and fluency.
• The personal development curriculum is not clearly defined or checked for effectiveness.
• Inconsistent behavior management strategies lead to disruptions in learning.

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 Oaklands Primary Academy attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 24.9% 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, 0.9% of pupils at Oaklands Primary Academy 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 Oaklands Primary Academy had 22.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 18.7% 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, 15.8% of pupils at Oaklands Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 8.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

The school has resourced provision with 7 pupils.

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 Oaklands Primary Academy received £8,032 and spent £7,256 for each of its 443 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £52,000 (£117 per pupil).

Across all 4 schools of Chancery Education Trust, income was £7,109 and spending £6,757 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 Bromley · Bromley local authority: places and applications

Oaklands Primary Academy is part of Chancery Education Trust, which runs 4 schools. The nearest others:

• Darrick Wood Infant & Nursery School Orpington
• Pickhurst Academy West Wickham
• John Wood School & Nursery Croydon

What is Oaklands Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Oaklands Primary Academy is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Oaklands Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Oaklands Primary Academy was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Oaklands Primary Academy have?

Oaklands Primary Academy has 423 pupils on roll.

What age range does Oaklands Primary Academy cover?

Oaklands Primary Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Oaklands Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 40% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Oaklands Primary Academy?

Oaklands Primary Academy is at Oaklands Lane, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent, TN16 3DN.