Waterside Primary Academy
Chesham, HP5 1QU · Buckinghamshire · primary school
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131st of 142 primary schools in Buckinghamshire we can score, 182 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 — 2.8/10 against 2,289 of them, against 2.6/10 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 | 34.0 · 5 | 62% | 0.29 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 38% | 2.36 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Waterside Primary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 34.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, 9.0% achieved it, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access boxing, dance, football, cricket, athletics, netball, tag rugby, and rounders, alongside trips to Phasels Wood and BMX workshops. Breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 225 pupils against a stated capacity of 242. 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 expected standard in core subjects? What specific support is offered during the breakfast and after-school clubs? How are places allocated for the upcoming academic year?
What Ofsted said about Waterside Primary Academy
Overview
Waterside Primary Academy is described as having a “strong and inclusive ethos” where pupils behave well and achieve positively. The report highlights that staff have a “strong understanding of individual pupils’ needs,” resulting in good outcomes for all learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “consideration for each other” and embrace school values such as care, respect, and effort.
- The curriculum is “well-sequenced from the early years to Year 6,” ensuring pupils learn the most important knowledge in nearly all subjects.
- Staff subject knowledge is “much stronger,” allowing them to effectively check learning and address mistakes.
- Reading is prioritised from Reception, with teachers providing “swift” additional support for phonics and fostering enthusiasm for texts.
- Personal development is supported by a “wide range of experiences,” including visits to places of worship and museums, which deepen cultural understanding.
Areas to improve
- In a few subjects, the most important knowledge is “not detailed precisely enough,” leaving staff unclear about what to teach and when.
- Teachers in some subjects do not “routinely check what pupils have remembered,” meaning gaps in learning are not addressed swiftly.
- The school continues to work to improve some pupils’ attendance and punctuality, which is “not as high as the school would wish.”
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 | 76% |
| 2023/24 | 71% |
| 2024/25 | 34% |
| 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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