Bucklebury C.E. Primary School, Reading
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Reading. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 62nd-highest of the 85 schools in Reading with published results, and 10,359th of 14,452 across England. It was 83% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to West Berkshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School in detail
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am absolutely delighted to be the Headteacher at Bucklebury C of E Primary School and feel incredibly proud to lead such a special school community. From the moment you arrive at Bucklebury, you will experience the warmth of the school, the strong sense of belonging and, most importantly, the care shown towards every child."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 71% in West Berkshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 78% in reading and 56% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 10 families put Bucklebury C.E. Primary School as their first choice and 27 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bucklebury C.E. Primary School are Francis Baily Primary School (1.2 miles, Requires improvement, 71% reading, 67% maths); Thatcham Park CofE Primary (1.6 miles, Good, 74% reading, 69% maths); St Finian's Catholic Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 87% reading, 77% maths); and Spurcroft Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 74% maths).
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Francis Baily Primary SchoolThatcham Park CofE PrimarySt Finian's Catholic Primary SchoolSpurcroft Primary School
What parents say
60 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bucklebury C.E. Primary School (as of September 2025): 78% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).
Who goes there
15.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Staffing
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Thatcham Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Peach's Stores (near), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 8 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Berkshire (26).
Suspensions and exclusions
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils at this school consistently show the school values of love, hope and faith. They respect each other's differences. During social times, pupils play together well. They are kind and supportive and take care of the school environment. Older pupils are proud to be play leaders. They help younger pupils to make friends and play safely. Through the school, pupils benefit from opportunities to develop leadership skills. As school, house and worship captains, pupils contribute positively to their community.
Pupils have trusting and nurturing relationships with the adults who support them. They value the high expectations that staff have for how they will behave and learn. Pupils strive to meet these expectations and encourage each other to do the same. Subsequently, the school environment is calm, and pupils have highly positive attitudes towards their education.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has a broad and ambitious curriculum that sets out what pupils need to learn and in what order. Knowledge is coherently sequenced in all subjects. As a result, all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), build knowledge well. Teachers have secure subject knowledge. They are very clear about what pupils' needs are. Most of the time, they make the right changes to activities so that all pupils achieve well.
The 2023 published outcomes for phonics were low. The school has since refined the process for teaching pupils how to read. Expertly trained staff now teach effective phonics lessons. Teachers regularly check how well pupils can read. When they spot that a pupil has fallen behind, they rapidly put in place extra activities that help the pupil to keep up with their reading. Consequently, pupils are fluent and confident readers.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
15.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
60 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 78% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 56% to 73% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 44% to 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.5
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
27.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bucklebury C.E. Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bucklebury C.E. Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bucklebury C.E. Primary School is in West Berkshire; for families living there:
Apply to West Berkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School
Will you get a place at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bucklebury C.E. Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bucklebury C.E. Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bucklebury C.E. Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from West Berkshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in West Berkshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
83%
Available places
105 pupils
126 places
21 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Reading
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Reading
Across West Berkshire council
Places available
2,024
Applications
1,547
Got 1st preference
90.8%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across West Berkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
21.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
99
Total Pupils
49
Boys
50
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
12.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,628
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,277
Per pupil
£781k
Total funding
£24k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
16.5%
Persistent absence
97
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School
Questions parents ask about Bucklebury C.E. Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 73% did so in maths.
What is Bucklebury C.E. Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bucklebury C.E. Primary School is oversubscribed, West Berkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 83% of its 126 places.
How big are the classes at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
Classes at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School average 23.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School has around 99 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Bucklebury C.E. Primary School in 2024/25. 16.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
Apply through West Berkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Bucklebury C.E. Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bucklebury C.E. Primary School?
Bucklebury C.E. Primary School is at Blacklands Road, Upper Bucklebury, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 6QP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)