Shefford C.E. Primary School, Hungerford

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades Shefford C.E. Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "By the end of key stage 2, pupils are generally prepared well for their next stage of education."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is designed and sequenced well to help pupils build the essential knowledge they need."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years and work closely with specialists and advisors to ensure that this provision helps children to make a positive start to their school lives."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an inclusive approach throughout the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's strengths and areas for development thoroughly."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a clear programme of personal development and wellbeing."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders have an effective approach to supporting pupils to attend school regularly and punctually."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Governors should further develop their knowledge and expertise to provide robust support and challenge to leaders that results in improved achievement, behaviour and attendance for pupils consistently and effectively across the federation"; "Leaders should ensure that the recently developed behaviour policy is consistently and effectively implemented across the staff team so that all pupils develop positive attitudes to their learning"; "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is adapted precisely for pupils who need additional support to enable all pupils to build on what they know more securely across all curriculum subjects"; "Leaders should ensure that mathematics lessons strengthen pupils' learning of mathematics, including times tables knowledge, resulting in improved published outcomes for all pupils over time"; "Leaders should further develop the programme of personal development and wellbeing so that the school's teaching of British values is understood clearly by all pupils".

In 2025, 50% of Year 6 pupils at Shefford C.E. Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 50% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 71% in West Berkshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 100% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Shefford C.E. Primary School as their first choice and 16 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.

The nearest other state primary schools to Shefford C.E. Primary School are Chaddleworth St Andrew's C.E. Primary School (2.1 miles, Good); Welford and Wickham C.E. Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 43% maths); Brightwalton C.E. Aided Primary School (3.3 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths); and Lambourn CofE Primary School (4.2 miles, Requires improvement, 70% reading, 52% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Shefford C.E. Primary School.

5.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 10 pupils (19.2%) received SEN support and 1 (1.9%) 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.

Shefford C.E. Primary School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 6 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Shefford C.E. Primary School.

In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Berkshire (26).

In 2024/25, Shefford C.E. Primary School issued 15 suspensions, 29.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.