Grove Church of England School, Wantage
Grove Church of England School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Wantage, part of Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 11 schools in Wantage with published results, and 10,597th of 14,452 across England. It was 88% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Oxfordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Grove Church of England School in detail
Grove Church of England School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am proud to be the Headteacher at Grove CE Primary school where our vision of ' let your light shine ' is at the heart of everything we do. We believe everyone has the right to shine through exciting learning opportunities and a broad and balanced curriculum."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, athletics and dance.
The school runs after-school care until 5:15pm.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Grove Church of England School reached the expected standard in reading and 64% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 75% in Oxfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 63% in reading and 53% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Grove Church of England School
For September 2026 entry, 7 families put Grove Church of England School as their first choice and 65 named it as one of their preferences, for 9 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 Grove Church of England School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Grove Church of England School are Millbrook Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 75% reading, 77% maths); Wantage Primary Academy (1.3 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 80% maths); Charlton Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 80% reading, 78% maths); and St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney (1.5 miles, Good, 69% reading, 52% maths).
Grove Church of England School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Millbrook Primary SchoolWantage Primary AcademyCharlton Primary SchoolSt James Church of England Primary School, Hanney
The trust
Grove Church of England School is one of 46 schools run by Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Grove Church of England School (as of September 2025): 75% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 17% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (17%).
Who goes there
9.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (62%), Black (16%) and Mixed (7%).
In 2026, 46 pupils (25.3%) received SEN support and 11 (6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Grove Church of England School.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Green (ne-bound), 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Grove Church of England School issued 21 suspensions, 11.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 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 are proud to attend this friendly and welcoming school. They like being part of a close community where everyone knows each other. The school's Christian values of love, respect and resilience are at the heart of this. Pupils demonstrate these through their considerate conduct around school. At playtimes, they share equipment and seek to involve others in their games. Pupils appreciate the warm relationships they have with staff. They feel confident about sharing any worries.
The school champions success. Weekly assemblies recognise individual achievements and contributions. Pupils are proud to receive awards that motivate them to try their best. Pupils benefit from the broad range of enrichment activities. They are encouraged to try new things, and many enjoy attending after-school clubs. Pupils value the shared experiences provided by different trips or visiting speakers.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is purposefully developing the wider curriculum. In some subjects, important knowledge is not arranged so that it supports pupils to build secure understanding. This hinders their learning over time. In the early years, the curriculum is strong, with carefully considered steps developing children's knowledge and skills. As a result, they are well prepared for key stage 1.
Teachers have secure subject knowledge. However, there are variations across subjects in how well teaching develops pupils' understanding. In some foundation subjects, teachers' explanations of new ideas do not always focus on important knowledge. Sometimes, the methods teachers use to check pupils' understanding and recall do not work well. This leaves pupils with misconceptions, and they can struggle to remember earlier learning. Across subjects, when teachers do identify areas of weaker knowledge, this is not always addressed with pupils. As a result, pupils continue to have gaps in their knowledge.
From Ofsted's September 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 May 2019 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
23.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 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 improved from 63% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 53% to 64% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 63% to 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.3
Avg class size
11.5
Infant (KS1)
29.3
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Grove Church of England School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Grove Church of England School.
- Elite Childcare GroveAt the school · Not yet graded
- TA Sport Stars Camp Millbrook460m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Grove Church of England School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Oxfordshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Grove Church of England School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Grove Church of England School is in Oxfordshire; for families living there:
- Oxfordshire's school travel policy: Free home to school travel assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 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 Grove Church of England School
Will you get a place at Grove Church of England School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Grove Church of England School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Grove Church of England School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Grove Church of England School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Oxfordshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Grove Church of England School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Oxfordshire 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
88%
Available places
184 pupils
210 places
26 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wantage
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wantage
Across Oxfordshire council
Places available
8,615
Applications
6,903
Got 1st preference
94.0%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All primary applications across Oxfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
46
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
31.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
182
Total Pupils
92
Boys
90
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
18.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,153
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,799
Per pupil
£1220k
Total funding
£68k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.7%
Overall absence
12.2%
Persistent absence
188
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
Grove Church of England School
Questions parents ask about Grove Church of England School
What are SATs results like at Grove Church of England School?
Of the pupils at Grove Church of England School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 64% did so in maths.
What is Grove Church of England School's Ofsted rating?
Grove Church of England School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Grove Church of England School?
No fixed boundary. When Grove Church of England School is oversubscribed, Oxfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Grove Church of England School?
Grove Church of England School was not full in 2025: it ran at 88% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Grove Church of England School?
Classes at Grove Church of England School average 23.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Grove Church of England School?
Grove Church of England School has around 182 pupils on roll. 24% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Grove Church of England School?
5.7% of sessions were missed at Grove Church of England School in 2024/25. 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Grove Church of England School?
Apply through Oxfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Grove Church of England 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.
Does Grove Church of England School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Elite Childcare Grove (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Grove Church of England School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Grove Church of England School?
Grove Church of England School is at North Drive, Grove, Wantage, Oxfordshire, OX12 7PW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)