St Leonard's Church of England Primary School, Banbury

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades St Leonard's Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard, 4 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.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "This is an inclusive school with a culture of high expectations."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed a programme for personal development that is comprehensive and closely aligned to statutory requirements and the school's context."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils typically attend well and arrive on time."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed the curriculum to meet statutory requirements and pupils' needs."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years because they know that giving children the best start to their education is crucial for future success."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are ambitious and have a clear vision for the school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils do not achieve as well as they should."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure that pupils learn to read well thanks to sufficiently embedded and skilful phonics teaching across the school"; "Leaders should ensure that consistently high-quality teaching supports pupils to apply key knowledge and skills effectively across the curriculum, driving up standards of achievement"; "Leaders should continue to implement their clear and strategic plans to secure ongoing and rapid improvement across the school's work, particularly in relation to attendance and achievement".

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at St Leonard's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 51% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 75% in Oxfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 66% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 46 families put St Leonard's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 82 named it as one of their preferences, for 45 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Leonard's Church of England Primary School are Dashwood Banbury Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 74% reading, 74% maths); St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Banbury (0.9 miles, Good, 57% reading, 63% maths); St John's Catholic Primary School (1 mile, Good, 70% reading, 53% maths); and Harriers Banbury Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Leonard's Church of England Primary School.

50.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (35%), Asian (31%) and Mixed (8%).

St Leonard's Church of England Primary School has a SEN unit for profound and multiple learning difficulties: 11 places, 11 pupils on roll.

St Leonard's Church of England Primary School had 20 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Banbury Rail Station, about 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Howard Road (outside), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 231 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Leonard's Church of England Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Leonard's Church of England Primary School are Futures Institute Banbury (1.4 miles), Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form (1.4 miles) and Wykham Park (1.5 miles).