St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney

St James Church of England Primary School in Hanney continues to demonstrate good performance, with a nurturing and inclusive environment that promotes pupils' achievement. The school has high expectations and successfully supports pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Pupils thrive under the care of dedicated staff who foster positive relationships, making them feel safe and supported. The curriculum is ambitious, particularly strong in English and mathematics, although it requires further refinement in foundation subjects to maximize pupil achievement across all areas. The school employs effective reading strategies and focuses on developing pupils' vocabulary and understanding from an early age. It promotes various leadership opportunities and encourages pupils to contribute positively to their community. However, the assessment practices in foundation subjects need strengthening to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge effectively. Overall, the supportive culture and committed staff contribute to a positive learning experience, reinforcing the school's reputation within the Vale Academy Trust.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe, happy, and supported.
• High expectations for pupils' achievements.
• Successful support for pupils with SEND.
• Ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum.
• Effective teaching of reading with a focus on phonics.
• Strong emphasis on developing pupils' vocabulary.
• Pupils display good behavior and considerateness.
• Excellent staff relationships contribute to a positive learning environment.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment practices in foundation subjects are not as effective as in English and mathematics.
• Need for greater clarity on the impact of the curriculum in foundation subjects.

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 St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney attended 94.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.8% 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, 1.4% of pupils at St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney 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 St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney had 19.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.7% 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, 24.0% of pupils at St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.6% 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 2023–24 St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney received £7,471 and spent £8,024 for each of its 184 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £84,000 (£458 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Cambrian Learning Trust, income was £6,956 and spending £6,911 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 Wantage · Oxfordshire local authority: places and applications

St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney is part of Cambrian Learning Trust, which runs 18 schools. The nearest others:

• Millbrook Primary School Wantage
• St Johns CofE Academy Wantage
• Charlton Primary School Wantage
• John Blandy Primary School Abingdon
• King Alfred's Wantage
• Wantage Church of England Primary School Wantage
• St Nicholas CofE Primary School Wantage
• Buckland Church of England Primary School Faringdon
• Thameside Primary School Abingdon
• Larkmead School Abingdon

What is St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney last inspected by Ofsted?

St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney have?

St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney has 196 pupils on roll.

What age range does St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney cover?

St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 45% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney?

St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney is at The Causeway, East Hanney, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 0JN.