William Morris Primary School
Banbury, OX16 0UZ · Oxfordshire · primary school
Check the area around this school
61st 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 — 4.7/10 against 3,224 of them, against 4.6/10 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 | 71.0 · 68 | 40% | 2.73 |
| Ofsted | 96 | 35% | 3.37 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
William Morris Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 71.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. The proportion reaching the higher standard was 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in September 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join a golf club, visit the local park in Reception, and access both breakfast and after-school clubs.
Getting in
The published school roll is 240 pupils against a stated capacity of 175. 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
What specific support is available for pupils who do not reach the higher standard in core subjects? How does the golf club operate for children of different ages and skill levels?
What Ofsted said about William Morris Primary School
Overview
William Morris Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “welcoming school” where pupils are “extremely polite and friendly” and demonstrate a “palpable love of learning.” Leaders and staff uphold high expectations, ensuring pupils are “well prepared for the next stage of their education” and life in modern Britain.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “interesting and engaging,” with essential knowledge set out in a “clear order” and adapted quickly for pupils joining at different times.
- Teachers possess “expert subject knowledge” and effectively support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) by matching learning to individual needs.
- Reading is the “backbone of the curriculum,” with children introduced to phonics early and supported to read “fluently and with confidence.”
- Pupils show “excellent attitudes,” resulting in “high rates of attendance” and respectful, caring behaviour towards peers.
- Students develop a “strong understanding of the wider world” through debates on current affairs, faiths, and environmental responsibility.
Areas to improve
- The teaching of early writing lacks rigour; errors in “pencil grip, accurate letter formation and joining techniques” are not consistently identified or addressed.
- The school must implement a “consistent and effective approach to teaching early handwriting skills” across all year groups, including the early years.
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 | 68% |
| 2023/24 | 55% |
| 2024/25 | 71% |
| 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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