Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School, Oswestry
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Oswestry. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 10 schools in Oswestry with published results, and 7,071st of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 105% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Shropshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School in detail
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "At ten years of age, I left my primary school with a passion for learning and self-confidence that has never diminished. I have only the best memories of my experiences and can directly link my primary education to my future life-choices. This is the experience that we aim to deliver for every one of our children."
The school runs after-school care until 6:00pm.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Shropshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (74% in reading, 79% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School as their first choice and 73 named it as one of their preferences, for 32 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School are The Meadows Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 74% reading, 64% maths); Holy Trinity Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery (1.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 72% maths); Woodside Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 71% reading, 72% maths); and Gobowen Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 96% reading, 96% maths).
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
The Meadows Primary SchoolHoly Trinity Church of England Primary Academy and NurseryWoodside Primary SchoolGobowen Primary School
What parents say
49 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).
Who goes there
12.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 24 pupils (10%) received SEN support and 27 (11.3%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 18 places, 18 pupils on roll.
Staffing
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School had 15 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gobowen Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (adjacent), 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from October 2013, 13 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
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
This is a school that sits at the heart of the local community. The school's values of love, honesty, courage, quality and community run through the school. Staff are nurturing and have good relationships with pupils. Pupils state that they are happy at school.
The school has set high expectations for pupils' behaviour. This high expectation is matched by staff. Pupils behave well. They feel safe and know who to talk to if they have a worry.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
There have been several noticeable improvements to the curriculum. The school has focused on improving pupils' reading, writing and mathematical knowledge. For example, the mathematics curriculum is carefully thought through and well designed to meet the needs of all pupils. This is making a difference as pupils are increasing their confidence with number and problem-solving.
Staff are well trained. They teach the content of the curriculum effectively. Staff make sure that the most important curriculum content is revisited regularly so that pupils remember what they have learned. They make accurate checks on pupils' learning. When pupils make mistakes, they are readily addressed. Pupils demonstrate positive behaviour towards their learning.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2013 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
12.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: Speech and language, Autism, SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
49 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 declined from 74% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 79% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 61% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.6
Avg class size
21.4
Infant (KS1)
33.0
KS2
9
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School
From Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School
Term dates
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Shropshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School is in Shropshire; for families living there:
Apply to Shropshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 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 Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School
Will you get a place at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Shropshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Shropshire 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
105%
Over capacity
236 pupils
225 places
11 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Oswestry
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Oswestry
Across Shropshire council
Places available
3,420
Applications
2,582
Got 1st preference
97.4%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Shropshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
24
SEN Support
27
EHC Plans
21.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 18 places, 18 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
239
Total Pupils
125
Boys
114
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
15.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,615
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,284
Per pupil
£1343k
Total funding
£45k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
13.5%
Persistent absence
215
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School
What are SATs results like at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
Of the pupils at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School is oversubscribed, Shropshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School was full in 2025, at 105% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
Classes at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School average 26.6 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School has around 239 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 18 places, 18 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School in 2024/25. 13.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
Apply through Shropshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Whittington CofE (VA) Primary 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.
How many road collisions happen near Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School?
Whittington CofE (VA) Primary School is at Station Road, Whittington, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 4DA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)