Harriers Banbury Academy
Banbury, OX16 9JW · Oxfordshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
149th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 3.7/10 against 3,405 of them, against 3.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 60.0 · 39 | 40% | 1.56 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 5.0 · 40 | 25% | 1.00 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Harriers Banbury Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 60.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with a national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 5.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2024. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (3.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 408 pupils against a stated capacity of 460. 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 below the national median in literacy and numeracy? What specific activities are included in the after-school provision? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating following the 2024 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Harriers Banbury Academy
Overview
Harriers Banbury Academy is confirmed as a "good school" following an ungraded inspection. It is described as a "friendly and inclusive school" where pupils are "responsible, respectful and safe," benefiting from an "ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum" and strong support for vulnerable learners.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "ambitious and well-sequenced," with a specific focus on vocabulary to help pupils "talk about and explain what they know with precision."
- Pupils enjoy "enriching opportunities" such as theatre trips and cooking, with "barriers to learning" sensitively removed for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Staff demonstrate "secure subject knowledge" and "explain learning clearly," fostering a culture where children develop "curiosity and a love of reading."
- Pupils benefit from "warm and kind relationships with staff," ensuring they feel "safe and supported" within a calm and polite environment.
- Leadership has "carefully balanced important staff training and curriculum work with managing staff well-being," ensuring staff feel valued.
Areas to improve
- Staff should more effectively check pupils’ understanding to ensure they "connect new knowledge to what they were taught before" and maintain "consistently high levels of engagement."
- The school aims to embed a culture of "active engagement and sustained learning" to address instances where some pupils do not demonstrate high levels of concentration.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 63% |
| 2023/24 | 59% |
| 2024/25 | 60% |
| 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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