The Elms Primary School, Faringdon

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.5km)Possible (~2.1km)Unlikely (~2.7km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Joseph Rubba
Pupils:251 / 420 capacity
LA:Oxfordshire
Phone:01367240232
Address:The Elms, Gloucester Street, Faringdon, SN7 7HZ
Trust:CAMBRIAN LEARNING TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2012

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Good

Quality of Education

Good

Behaviour & Attitudes

Good

Personal Development

Good

Leadership & Management

Good

Early Years

Inspected 13 May 2025View full report
URN:138009
UKPRN:10036984
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Witney
Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This is a friendly, inclusive school where children are encouraged to be kind and resilient. Teachers know pupils well and use regular checks to help them learn effectively. The school has a strong focus on reading right from Nursery, and recently made big improvements to behaviour and pupil attitudes.

Key Strengths

  • Strong focus on reading - systematic approach with well-trained staff and additional support for pupils who fall behind
  • Behaviour has improved dramatically this year through consistent approaches and positive relationships
  • Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and present concepts clearly
  • Well-planned personal development programme covering healthy relationships, online safety and different cultures
  • Inclusive approach with good systems to identify and support pupils with special needs

Areas for Improvement

  • Some tasks in the wider curriculum are not challenging enough, meaning pupils don't always apply their learning confidently and independently
  • Extended writing tasks need to be more ambitious
  • Last year's published outcomes were below national average in reading and mathematics

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.

Extracurricular Activities

Sporting festivals, science fairs, assemblies, community performances, mystery reader visits from parents/carers

The Elms Primary School is an inclusive and happy community where pupils feel safe and supported. The school has made notable improvements under current leadership, with better behaviour and a more positive culture.

At a Glance

20.0%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

54 responses
Would recommend89%
Child is happy94%
Well taught94%
Good progress82%
Feels safe93%
Well behaved83%
Bullying dealt with9%
Kept informed93%
Handles concerns63%
Wider development85%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+13ppMaths+16ppWriting+3pp

Reading has improved from 63% to 76%. Maths has improved from 60% to 76%. Writing has remained stable at around 70%.

Class Sizes

25.3

Avg class size

23.0

Infant (KS1)

27.7

KS2

12

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

The Elms School Stop (E-bound)
40m · 1 min walk
Infants School Car Park (inside)
203m · 3 min walk
Marlborough Street (SW-bound)
243m · 4 min walk
Oakwood Day Centre (o/s)
265m · 4 min walk
Coxwell Street (NE-bound)
266m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

60%

Available places

251 pupils

420 capacity

169 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Faringdon

Low pressure
New homes approved:461
Projected new pupils:115

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Faringdon

Admissions Demand - Oxfordshire

Low demand0.80x oversubscription

Places available

8,555

Applications

6,831

Got 1st preference

94.0%

Got preferred school

99.1%

Primary admissions across Oxfordshire (2025/26)

Inspection History(3)

13 May 2025
Quality of EducationGood
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementGood
Early YearsGood
8 March 2018
28 January 2014
Leadership & ManagementGood

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.12632%

Overall absence

16.79104%

Persistent absence

268

Enrolments

Authorised4.13775%
Unauthorised0.98857%
Persistent (10%+)16.79104%
Severe (50%+)0.37313%

Absence trend

3.69889%
18/19
3.43666%
20/21
5.60245%
21/22
6.31966%
22/23
5.97451%
23/24
5.12632%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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