Middleton Cheney Primary Academy, Banbury

Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades Middleton Cheney Primary Academy on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children in early years benefit from a lively, purposeful and inclusive learning environment."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils are well prepared for the next stage in their education."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have clear systems and processes in place to support pupils to attend regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school's curriculum identifies what pupils will learn and when, including for those who are in mixed-year groups."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that the needs of pupils are identified and checked effectively."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including governors, have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that the personal development curriculum reflects the school's context."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment information and their knowledge of pupils' barriers to learning, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to adapt the curriculum and teaching so that pupils build successfully on what they know across all subject areas"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils understand how the school's values that they follow in their behaviour and conduct link with fundamental British values"; "Leaders should further strengthen their work to improve attendance, with a particular focus on disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, to ensure that all pupils come to school as often as possible".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Middleton Cheney Primary School. We are a two form entry Primary School based in the village of Middleton Cheney. We want our children to be confident in their own abilities and to reach their fullest potential through high quality teaching and pastoral care."

The school runs after-school care until 5:30pm.

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Middleton Cheney Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in West Northamptonshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 81% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 46 families put Middleton Cheney Primary Academy as their first choice and 63 named it as one of their preferences, for 46 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Middleton Cheney Primary Academy are Chacombe CEVA Primary Academy (1.3 miles, Good, 85% reading, 69% maths); St Leonard's Church of England Primary School (2 miles, Good, 60% reading, 51% maths); Dashwood Banbury Academy (2.2 miles, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths); and Farthinghoe Primary School (2.6 miles, Outstanding, 71% reading, 43% maths).

Middleton Cheney Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Middleton Cheney Primary Academy is one of 3 schools run by Prime7 MAT, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

59 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Middleton Cheney Primary Academy (as of April 2026): 85% would recommend the school, 88% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

9.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Banbury Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Red Lion PH (opposite), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 15 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Northamptonshire (90).

In 2024/25, Middleton Cheney Primary Academy issued 6 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.