Dry Sandford Primary School
Abingdon, OX13 6EE · Oxfordshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
45th of 230 primary schools in Oxfordshire we can score, 244 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 3,942 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.1/10 among them, against 7.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 75.0 · 78 | 40% | 3.11 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 13.0 · 78 | 25% | 1.94 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dry Sandford Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 75.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the figure was 13.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.1 out of 10 among them, against 7.8 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 98 pupils against a stated capacity of 140. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are not yet meeting the expected standard in maths? What specific activities are included in the after-school club? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating in the coming years?
What Ofsted said about Dry Sandford Primary School
Overview
Dry Sandford Primary School continues to be a good school, characterised by a "strong ethos of nurture and support" that is embedded in all aspects of provision. Pupils feel happy and safe, benefiting from high expectations and an ambitious curriculum that helps most achieve well across a broad range of subjects.
Strengths
- Pupils are "happy and safe," with bullying being rare and adults intervening effectively when support is requested.
- Teachers maintain "high expectations for all pupils," including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring learning is carefully matched to individual needs.
- The curriculum is "ambitious," with staff planning the "right knowledge, skills and vocabulary in the right order" to help pupils practise and apply their learning.
- Reading is a clear priority, with younger pupils benefiting from daily teaching and opportunities to apply phonic knowledge, supported by a whole-school culture that celebrates reading.
- Leaders are "considerate of staff’s workload and well-being," fostering a supportive environment for professional development.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should provide further training so staff can "precisely identify gaps in pupils’ phonic knowledge" and address inconsistencies in phonics teaching.
- In some foundation subjects, leaders need to identify "clearly enough the essential knowledge" pupils should learn to help them build securely on previous learning.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders acting swiftly to ensure pupils are safe, although the report notes that "governance oversight of some aspects of safeguarding has not been sufficiently robust" at times.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 45% |
| 2023/24 | 50% |
| 2024/25 | 75% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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