Headington Quarry Nursery School, Oxford
Headington Quarry Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Oxford. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Headington Quarry Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
3.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 31.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (38%), other ethnic groups (10%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 11 pupils (13.4%) received SEN support and 3 (3.7%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Oxford Rail Station, about 3.1 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Beaumont Road (w-bound), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Headington Quarry Nursery School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 190 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Children have an excellent start to their education at this inclusive and welcoming school. The vibrant community environment ignites children's curiosity, fostering an irresistible enthusiasm for learning. Children love coming to school. They thrive because their needs are met exceptionally well. The school is a happy place where children feel safe and secure.
The staff have clear expectations and ensure that all children achieve highly. Children's behaviour is exemplary. They learn to be kind to one another and behave sensibly. Staff maximise opportunities to develop children's language, speech and communication through engaging in high-quality conversations.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has a deep knowledge of how young children develop and learn. The curriculum is highly ambitious. It is carefully considered and meticulously designed, taking account of the small steps of knowledge and skills children need to acquire. Adults show a passion and determination to make a positive difference for children. This is seen in the precisely tailored, high-quality environment that has been created to support all children in learning the inspiring curriculum. Children learn a strong body of knowledge systematically over time. The curriculum prepares children remarkably well for their next stage of learning.
From Ofsted's July 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 Outstanding at its May 2015 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
3.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby nursery schools
Keep up with Headington Quarry Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Headington Quarry Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Headington Quarry Nursery 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
- 34
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 34 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 25 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
6 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
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Oxford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Oxford
Across Oxfordshire council
Places available
7,654
Applications
6,814
Got 1st preference
85.4%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Oxfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
17.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
82
Total Pupils
48
Boys
34
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
16.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,431
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about Headington Quarry Nursery School
What is Headington Quarry Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Headington Quarry Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Headington Quarry Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Headington Quarry Nursery School is oversubscribed, Oxfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Headington Quarry Nursery School?
Headington Quarry Nursery School has around 82 pupils on roll. 4% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Headington Quarry Nursery School?
Apply through Oxfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Headington Quarry Nursery School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Headington Quarry Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 34 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 25 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 6 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 Headington Quarry Nursery School?
Headington Quarry Nursery School is at Quarry School Place, Headington, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 8LH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)