Purley CofE Primary School, Reading

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Purley CofE Primary School 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.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a cohesive, carefully planned approach to personal development and wellbeing that has a very positive impact on all pupils at the school."

Achievement - Expected standard. "By the end of key stage 2, pupils' reading, mathematics and writing, including handwriting are well developed."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of, and a strategic approach to supporting attendance and behaviour in the school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is planned and sequenced so that pupils build their knowledge and skills logically, such as in the school's approach to phonics."

Early years - Expected standard. "There is a clear, ambitious vision for children in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify pupils' needs quickly."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's strengths and have devised improvement plans that help to build on these effectively."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff check pupils' knowledge and understanding within and across lessons consistently well so that they address pupils' errors and misconceptions and help pupils to build on their prior knowledge even more effectively"; "Leaders should ensure that adaptations to the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils are designed precisely to enable pupils to build on what they know securely across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that staff maximise opportunities for children's learning through consistent, high-quality interactions across the curriculum, including in the early years".

In its own words: "At Purley Church of England Primary School, we aim to meet the needs of every child as an individual , within a caring and happy school community. While we are proud of our Christian foundation, we welcome children and families of all faiths and none , and work to ensure that everyone feels valued, respected, and included."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include ukulele and guitar.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:50am and after-school care, from £6.50 per day.

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Purley CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% 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 67% in reading and 60% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Purley CofE Primary School as their first choice and 14 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Purley CofE Primary School are Long Lane Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 62% maths); Westwood Farm Infant School (0.6 miles, Good); Westwood Farm Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 68% reading, 74% maths); and Downsway Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 67% reading, 73% maths).

Purley CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

In 2026, 31 pupils (36.5%) received SEN support and 4 (4.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Purley CofE Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 10 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Tilehurst Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Infants School (adjacent), 30 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Purley CofE Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

Purley CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.