Whixall CofE Primary School

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 2 to 11
Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

Brownsbrook, Whixall, Whitchurch, SY13 2SBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Whixall CofE Primary School is a primary school in Whitchurch for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 183 schools in Shropshire. It ranks 2nd of 6 primary schools in Whitchurch. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 11 February 2025, report published 20 March 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Requires improvement
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 February 2025

Whixall CofE Primary School places pupils at the heart of everything it does. Most pupils say the school is 'like a second family'. Staff work closely with parents and carers to build positive relationships. Parents are delighted with the support they receive. One parent's comment was typical of many when they said, 'An ethos of kindness, inclusion and community shines out.' Pupils brim with enthusiasm and love learning. For the most part, they fulfil the school's high standards and achieve well. However, children in the early years do not achieve as well as the school expects. The school has high expectations for pupils' conduct and behaviour. Pupils are polite and well mannered. There is a purposeful and amiable environment in classrooms and around the school. Pupils understand the importance of tolerance and respect. Underpinning this are the school's values. Pupils say these 'help us and others to get on well'. Pupils benefit from a wide range of trips and external visitors which enrich the curriculum. They reflect that these experiences help them to understand what they have learned in class. For example, in history, pupils could explain how a trip to a castle had enabled them to understand their historical purpose and use.

What the school should improve

  • Staff do not deliver the early years curriculum as effectively as the school intends. This means that children are not well prepared as they should be to learn in key stage 1. The school should support staff to ensure that they deliver the early years curriculum as effectively and as intended.
  • In some subjects, the checks staff make on pupils' learning are not as developed as they could be. As a result, in these subjects, staff do not always know how well pupils are learning over time. The school should ensure that checks on pupils' learning are made in all subjects in order to make sure they have learned what has been delivered in all subjects.
  • Some staff have not received sufficient training and support to teach phonics effectively. As a result, some pupils do not learn to read quickly enough. The school should support all staff in the implementation of the school's phonics programme so as it is delivered consistently well.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

14 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths79%

79%, 17 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths7%

7%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score111

111, 5 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score110

110, 5 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

152 pupils on roll, with places for 140

Eligible for free school meals11.8%

11.8%, 14.7 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language1.3%

1.3%, 20.3 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support3.9%

3.9%, 10.9 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.6%

4.6%, 1.4 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Whixall CofE Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Newtown CofE Primary School3 milesOfsted judgements: Good25% met the expected standard
Tilstock CofE Primary and Nursery3 milesReport card: Needs attention to strong standard40% met the expected standard
Prees CofE Primary School3 milesOfsted: Good65% met the expected standard
St Peter's CofE Primary School4 milesOfsted: Good60% met the expected standard
Welshampton CofE Primary School4 milesOfsted: Good38% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
THE 3-18 EDUCATION TRUST
Age range
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Miss Nicola Brayford
Address
Brownsbrook, Whixall, Whitchurch, SY13 2SB
Local authority
Shropshire
URN
143325

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.