Oakhill Church School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 February 2026

Pupils start each day with joy and a sense of pride in their school. They are welcomed warmly with music and by staff that show genuine interest in their wellbeing and readiness to start the day. Pupils take this positivity into their first learning tasks of the day. These are designed to target the important knowledge they need to develop fluent reading, writing and number skills. This has been a deliberate focus by leaders to ensure that pupils improve their attainment in national tests and assessments. Pupils enthuse about their learning. They are motivated to know more in the subjects they study because leaders have made significant improvements to the curriculum. This helps pupils to increasingly progress well and be prepared successfully for the next steps in their education. Relationships between staff and pupils are warm and caring. Pupils are known in depth by staff. This enables pupils’ needs and barriers to learning and development to be met swiftly and with precision. As a result, pupils benefit from a school community that is highly inclusive and enables them to learn successfully. Pupils value the systems that support them to meet staff's high expectations of their conduct and behaviours for learning. These include clear routines that start in the early years. Throughout the school, pupils show high levels of respect. Instances of unkind behaviour, bullying or any form of discriminatory behaviour are rare. Pupils actively encourage each other’s independence and celebrate successes. Celebration assemblies are a highlight for pupils and their families. Pupils’ academic learning is enhanced by a wider offer that clearly focuses on their wellbeing and understanding of the wider world. Pupils are encouraged to take time to reflect and form their own views and opinions. This is developed through the school’s collective worship opportunities and the values-based ethos that runs through all the school does. This equips pupils well for life beyond Oakhill Church School.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to embed the impact of their work, and the work of staff, on strengthening important foundational skills, particularly in pupils’ mathematics and writing.
• Leaders should increase the sustained impact of their work, and continue to develop the expertise of staff, in order to secure consistently strong standards across all areas of the school’s work.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)