Thomas Hickman School, Aylesbury
Thomas Hickman School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Aylesbury. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 32nd-highest of the 34 schools in Aylesbury with published results, and 12,528th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Buckinghamshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Thomas Hickman School in detail
Results
In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at Thomas Hickman School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 81% and 77% in Buckinghamshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 61% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Thomas Hickman School
For September 2026 entry, 50 families put Thomas Hickman School as their first choice and 114 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Thomas Hickman School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thomas Hickman School are Haydon Abbey School and Pre-School (0.6 miles, Requires improvement, 74% reading, 74% maths); St Mary's Church of England School (0.8 miles, 79% reading, 76% maths); Buckingham Park Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); and Bearbrook Combined School (1 mile, Good, 75% reading, 70% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Thomas Hickman School.
Haydon Abbey School and Pre-SchoolSt Mary's Church of England SchoolBuckingham Park Church of England Primary SchoolBearbrook Combined School
What parents say
67 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thomas Hickman School (as of September 2025): 64% would recommend the school, 78% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (79%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (63%).
Who goes there
34% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 39.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (38%), White British (29%) and Mixed (12%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Aylesbury Vale Parkway Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
22 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ailward Road (opposite), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 175 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 Buckinghamshire (44), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Thomas Hickman School issued 14 suspensions, 2.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Thomas Hickman School are The Aylesbury Vale Academy (0.8 miles), Aylesbury UTC (1.1 miles) and Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School (1.2 miles).
The Aylesbury Vale AcademyAylesbury UTCSir Henry Floyd Grammar School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from September 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Thomas Hickman School excels at giving children a great start through excellent early years provision and consistent phonics teaching that builds strong readers. Teachers are highly skilled at spotting when children need extra help and adapting lessons so all pupils - including those with additional needs - can access the same learning. The school has a caring, supportive culture where children develop resilience and self-control, with specialist support available for those who struggle with behaviour.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on language and vocabulary development from Nursery onwards, with excellent phonics teaching and reading promotion -
- Well-designed, carefully sequenced curriculum that helps all pupils deepen knowledge and understanding -
- Excellent behaviour and personal development support, with pupils showing commitment and resilience -
- Highly effective teaching with skilled staff who check understanding and adapt learning for all pupils, including those with SEND -
- Strong pupil voice through 'pupil parliament' where children influence school decisions and learn about democracy
Areas for Improvement
- Pupil absence remains an ongoing challenge despite effective support being in place
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with the school creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Pupil parliament roles, Magazine Mondays, Fiction Fridays, breakfast club, after-school club
Thomas Hickman School is a larger than average primary school in Aylesbury that has improved significantly since its previous inspection. Pupils are proud of their school, happy, and kept safe, with calm and orderly behaviour throughout.
At a Glance
34.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
67 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 61% to 66% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 69% to 58% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 68% to 61% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.1
Avg class size
25.6
Infant (KS1)
30.6
KS2
14
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Thomas Hickman School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Thomas Hickman School.
- Thomas Hickman Premier Holiday CampAt the school · Not yet graded
- Simply Out of School Haydon Abbey910m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Thomas Hickman School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Buckinghamshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Thomas Hickman School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thomas Hickman School is in Buckinghamshire; for families living there:
- Buckinghamshire's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy (0 to 25 Year Olds)
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 17
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Thomas Hickman School
Will you get a place at Thomas Hickman School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Thomas Hickman School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Thomas Hickman School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Thomas Hickman School.
- Buckinghamshire publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Thomas Hickman School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Thomas Hickman School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Buckinghamshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
427 pupils
420 places
7 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Aylesbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Aylesbury
Across Buckinghamshire council
Places available
6,722
Applications
5,630
Got 1st preference
91.6%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Buckinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
Ungraded inspection: The school has improved significantly.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
92
SEN Support
21
EHC Plans
22.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
500
Total Pupils
263
Boys
237
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
23.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,232
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,685
Per pupil
£2722k
Total funding
£203k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.6%
Overall absence
20.4%
Persistent absence
387
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about Thomas Hickman School
What are SATs results like at Thomas Hickman School?
Of the pupils at Thomas Hickman School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 66% reached the expected standard in reading and 58% did so in maths.
What is Thomas Hickman School's Ofsted rating?
Thomas Hickman School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Thomas Hickman School?
No fixed boundary. When Thomas Hickman School is oversubscribed, Buckinghamshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Thomas Hickman School?
Thomas Hickman School was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Thomas Hickman School?
Classes at Thomas Hickman School average 28.1 pupils (2025/26). 5 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Thomas Hickman School?
Thomas Hickman School has around 500 pupils on roll. 34% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thomas Hickman School?
6.6% of sessions were missed at Thomas Hickman School in 2024/25. 20.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thomas Hickman School?
Apply through Buckinghamshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Thomas Hickman School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Thomas Hickman School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Thomas Hickman Premier Holiday Camp (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Thomas Hickman School's term dates?
Thomas Hickman School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Buckinghamshire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Wednesday 2 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Thomas Hickman School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 17 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 15 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 6 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Thomas Hickman School?
Thomas Hickman School is at Belgrave Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 9HP.
Sources: Buckinghamshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)