John Blandy Primary School
Laurel Drive, Southmoor, Abingdon, OX13 5DJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
John Blandy Primary School is a primary school in Abingdon for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 359 schools in Oxfordshire. It ranks 4th of 20 primary schools in Abingdon. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in December 2025.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 9 December 2025, report published 22 January 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Expected standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Expected standard
- Leadership and governance
- Expected standard
- Early years
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 9 December 2025
Pupils feel welcome and supported at John Blandy Primary School. They speak warmly about the staff. They describe them as 'kind' and 'always ready to help'. Pupils' distinct sense of belonging is reflected in their high attendance. Pupils are keen when they arrive and enjoy being part of the school community. Pupils behave well here. As a result, they feel safe and learn effectively. Pupils understand why school rules matter and they follow them. This work begins in the early years, where children are taught to follow clear routines consistently. Pupils enjoy their learning and achieve well. They particularly enjoy developing practical skills in subjects such as design and technology and science. They also value opportunities to take responsibility. Leadership roles, including librarians, assembly monitors and eco- team members, are well established. Pupils take pride in these roles. The school council influences decisions, for example improving playtime equipment. Play leaders are positive role models who support younger pupils at breaktimes. Pupils aim to achieve gold or platinum in the school's citizenship award, reflecting their commitment to responsibility. There are many enrichment opportunities at the school. Pupils sing with joy in weekly assemblies and look forward to performing carols at a local residential home. They are excited about special events that happen, such as the trip to the theatre to watch the pantomime and residential visits for older pupils. A recent visit to a Formula 1 racing track inspired learning about engineering. Pupils feel safe at school. They learn how to manage risks in the wider community. For example, they learn to 'expect the unexpected' when travelling locally. They benefit from visits by the emergency services. For example, firefighters visit to teach them about fire and road safety.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should develop teachers' expertise in using assessment consistently to check pupils' understanding, to quickly identify gaps in knowledge and misconceptions, and to use this information to inform effective adaptations to teaching.
- Leaders should ensure that pupils develop fluent and accurate handwriting to support their writing across the whole curriculum.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
31 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
296 pupils on roll, with places for 315
Schools near John Blandy Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longworth Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| Standlake Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 48% met the expected standard |
| Appleton Church of England (A) Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
| St James Church of England Primary School, Hanney | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 45% met the expected standard |
| Marcham Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 43% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- CAMBRIAN LEARNING TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Suzanne Elliott
- Phone
- 01865820422
- Address
- Laurel Drive, Southmoor, Abingdon, OX13 5DJ
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- URN
- 140307
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.