Rush Common School, Abingdon

Ofsted's report card from its 6 January 2026 inspection grades Rush Common School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Attendance across the school is positive and continues to improve."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have created an inspiring culture that is evident throughout the school's work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "All pupils develop a secure understanding and confidently recall prior learning from the personal, social, health and education curriculum."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders are ambitious for all pupils and have high expectations for what they can achieve."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed an ambitious and engaging curriculum that inspires pupils and nurtures their enthusiasm for learning."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have high aspirations for children in the early years."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders at all levels have a clear and accurate understanding of the school's strengths and priorities."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure, across the foundation subjects, that all staff use assessment effectively to inform teaching and to help disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities embed key concepts, use knowledge fluently and develop their understanding. • Leaders should ensure staff in the early years consistently maximise the opportunities for engaging children in high-quality interactions throughout the day".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We pride ourselves on pupils feeling happy and safe in our school at all times, and to achieve this we provide a wonderful learning environment and have a welcoming and talented team of staff. Pupils love coming to our school and this is always reflected in parent surveys, which demonstrate overwhelming support for the school."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Rush Common School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 75% in Oxfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 78% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 52 families put Rush Common School as their first choice and 137 named it as one of their preferences, for 56 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 Rush Common School are Thomas Reade Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 70% reading, 83% maths); St Edmund's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 62% maths); Dunmore Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths); and Long Furlong Primary School (0.6 miles, Requires improvement, 67% reading, 73% maths).

Rush Common School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Rush Common School is one of 4 schools run by Alt Trust, an academy trust.

97 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Rush Common School (as of April 2026): 92% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 77% 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) (77%).

5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 53 pupils (12.7%) received SEN support and 6 (1.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Rush Common School has a resourced provision.

The nearest railway station is Radley Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Daisy Bank (opposite), 330 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Rush Common School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 126 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.

In 2024/25, Rush Common School issued 12 suspensions, 2.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Rush Common School are Fitzharrys School (0.6 miles), John Mason School (0.8 miles), Larkmead School (1.3 miles) and Europa School UK (1.8 miles).