Thomas Harding Junior School, Chesham

Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 711

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~557m)Possible (~795m)Unlikely (~1.0km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Samantha Ruddell
Pupils:238 / 240 capacity
LA:Buckinghamshire
Phone:01494782211
Address:Thomas Harding Junior School, Fullers Hill, Thomas Harding Junior School, Chesham, HP5 1LR
Trust:OXFORD DIOCESAN BUCKS SCHOOLS TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 October 2017

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 4 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 19 May 2026View full report
URN:145069
UKPRN:10065185
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Chesham and Amersham
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This is a warm, welcoming school where all children - including those needing extra support - feel truly included and valued. Pupils achieve well in their learning and develop strong wellbeing through caring staff who know them personally. The school balances academic success with building pupils' confidence, independence and respect for others through a rich range of activities and experiences.

Key Strengths

  • Strong focus on inclusion with early identification of additional needs and tailored support for all pupils
  • Well-designed, ambitious curriculum that helps pupils build knowledge step by step
  • Excellent wellbeing support that removes barriers and helps pupils engage fully in school life
  • Effective leadership that values staff wellbeing and manages change well
  • High-quality trips and visits that enrich learning and build pupil confidence

Areas for Improvement

  • Teachers need to check more precisely that pupils understand their learning to address gaps and misconceptions faster
  • Handwriting and letter formation needs further development so all pupils write neatly and fluently
  • Some written work is not as accurate or fluent as it could be
  • Attendance support has improved but continued work is needed to ensure all pupils benefit

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Crochet club, trips to local woods, residential trips, wide range of pupil-led clubs

Thomas Harding Junior School is a caring and inclusive school where pupils achieve well and feel safe. Leaders place pupils' wellbeing at the centre of their work and have created an ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils for secondary school.

At a Glance

28.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+20ppMaths+14ppWriting+20pp

Reading has improved from 68% to 88%. Maths has improved from 74% to 88%. Writing has improved from 63% to 83%.

Class Sizes

28.6

Avg class size

28.6

KS2

8

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Tube / Metro / Tram

Chesham Underground Station
517m · 8 min walk

Bus Stops

Red Lion Street (Northbound)
255m · 4 min walk
The Wild Rover PH (Opp)
256m · 4 min walk
Pednormead End (o/s 102)
290m · 5 min walk
Chessbury (adj)
375m · 6 min walk
Hospital Hill (Opp)
487m · 8 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

238 pupils

240 capacity

2 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Chesham

Low pressure
New homes approved:563
Projected new pupils:141

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chesham

Admissions Demand - Buckinghamshire

Low demand0.87x oversubscription

Places available

6,847

Applications

5,934

Got 1st preference

89.9%

Got preferred school

98.7%

Primary admissions across Buckinghamshire (2025/26)

Inspection History(4)

19 May 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
9 November 2021
4 October 2017

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

5.57963%

Overall absence

18.06723%

Persistent absence

238

Enrolments

Authorised4.51241%
Unauthorised1.06723%
Persistent (10%+)18.06723%
Severe (50%+)0.84034%

Absence trend

4.10487%
18/19
3.80044%
20/21
6.61021%
21/22
6.26564%
22/23
6.2823%
23/24
5.57963%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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