The Winchcombe School, Newbury

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades The Winchcombe School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years provision demonstrates a clear understanding of the statutory framework."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have constructed a well-considered personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement across the school is variable."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Overall, pupils' attendance is broadly in line with national figures."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Despite the curriculum's clear intent, teaching is inconsistent across the school."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "The provision for pupils with a specific vulnerability or disadvantage across the school is inconsistent."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders, including those responsible for governance, have identified the right improvement priorities for the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that pupils, including older pupils who have not secured firm foundational reading knowledge and skills, receive precise early reading teaching and support. • Leaders should ensure that the writing curriculum is implemented consistently well, with a shared high ambition to raise pupils' achievement in this aspect of the school's work. • Leaders should analyse attendance patterns more closely to identify barriers and take swifter, more effective action to improve attendance rates, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. • Leaders should provide staff with regular, high‑quality professional learning and rigorously monitor its impact to drive rapid improvement. This includes training focused on meeting pupils' needs, appropriate pedagogical choices and behaviour management".

From the headteacher's welcome: "As the Headteacher, I feel extremely proud to lead The Winchcombe School and work with a community committed to help everyone 'Improving As One'."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at The Winchcombe School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 71% in West Berkshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (72% in reading, 77% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 38 families put The Winchcombe School as their first choice and 123 named it as one of their preferences, for 57 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 The Winchcombe School are Speenhamland School (0.3 miles, Good, 66% reading, 70% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 77% reading, 71% maths); Shaw-cum-Donnington C.E. Primary School (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 80% reading, 60% maths); and Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery (0.7 miles, Good, 93% reading, 87% maths).

The Winchcombe School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

86 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Winchcombe School (as of April 2026): 85% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 48% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (48%).

In 2026, 69 pupils (15.8%) received SEN support and 31 (7.1%) 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.

The Winchcombe School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and speech, language and communication needs: 16 places, 13 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Newbury Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dolman Road Shops (s-bound), 230 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 249 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 West Berkshire (26), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Winchcombe School issued 10 suspensions, 2.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to The Winchcombe School are Trinity School (0.2 miles) and St Bartholomew's School (1.3 miles).