Finmere Church of England Primary School
similar schools
Finmere Church of England Primary School is a converter academy in Buckingham for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 45 pupils and room for 70. About 4 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 61 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 71% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.
Mere Road, Finmere, Buckingham, MK18 4AR01280 848459finmere.oxon.sch.ukMrs Clare Law headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
A shorter visit on 25 June 2024 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
8 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019† | 2017† | 2016† | Oxfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 8 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 9 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 88% | – | – | 57% | – | 44% | 63% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | – | – | 0% | – | 0% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 111.0 | – | – | 103.0 | – | 107.0 | 106.1 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 110.0 | – | – | 103.0 | – | 99.0 | 104.4 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 110.0 | – | – | 101.0 | – | 101.0 | 104.8 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 88% | – | – | 71% | – | 78% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 88% | – | – | 86% | – | 44% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 88% | – | – | 100% | – | 89% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | – | -1.4 | – | +3.5 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | – | -1.7 | – | -4.0 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | – | – | – | – | – | 0% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | – | – | – | – | – | 44% | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for Finmere Church of England Primary School, the school this one replaced in March 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
21 places were empty (30% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 17% since 2021/22.
The last child to get a place lived 3.6 miles away in 2026, 6.1 miles away in 2023. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 3.6 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year. 8 families put it down as their first choice and 8 of them got in (100%).
| Entry | Places | Put it first | Applied at all | Got a place | First choices who got in | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 7 | 8 | 24 | 10 | 100% | 3.6 miles | LA |
| 2025 Primary | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 100% | – all offered | LA |
| 2024 Primary | 7 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 100% | – all offered | LA |
| 2023 Primary | 7 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 100% | 6.1 miles | LA |
The distances are the council's own, usually measured in a straight line from home to the school gate. If the distance is getting shorter each year, the school is getting harder to get into. See which councils we have this data for.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (3), emotional and mental health (3), language and communications needs (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 45 | 48 | 44 | 35 | 44 | 53 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 4% | 8% | 11% | 6% | 0% | 2% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 4% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 7% | 4% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 8% | 9% | 20% | 25% | 17% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 4% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 6% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.5% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19† | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 4.6% | 4.4% | 3.3% | 6.6% | 2.3% | 3.3% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 3.1% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 5.8% | 1.9% | 2.7% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.5% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0.4% | 0.6% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 4.9% | 3.5% | 9.1% | 21.1% | 0.0% | 2.6% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
† These attendance figures are for Finmere Church of England Primary School, the school this one replaced in March 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundwood Primary School | Council | 2.8 miles | 192 | Report card 2026 | 14 | Compare |
| Fringford Church of England Primary School | Church of England | 3.3 miles | 82 | Good 2022 | 51 | Compare |
| St James and St John CofE Primary School | Church of England | 3.6 miles | 144 | Good 2024 | 68 | Compare |
| George Grenville Academy | Academy | 3.8 miles | 186 | Good 2023 | 15 | Compare |
| Buckingham Primary School | Council | 4.1 miles | 354 | No overall grade 2025 | 75 | Compare |
| Twyford C of E School | Church of England | 4.2 miles | 102 | Good 2023 | 57 | Compare |
| Brackley Church of England Junior School | Church of England | 4.3 miles | 225 | Report card 2026 | 11 | Compare |
| Lace Hill Academy | Academy | 4.4 miles | 218 | Good 2024 | 60 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Finmere Church of England Primary School with the 44 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 44 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 44 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Finmere Church of England Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mursley Church of England School | Church of England | 11.4 miles | 45 | No overall grade 2025 | 79 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 61 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 61% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 30 to 84. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 0% | no data | – | |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.03 | Ofsted grade, 2.2 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 0% | no data | – | |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | in line | -0.08 | results and attendance falling year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.18 | 2024/25; 41 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 0% | no data | – | |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Finmere Church of England Primary School a good school?
It is about average. Finmere Church of England Primary School scores 61 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 71% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 30 to 84, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Finmere Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Finmere Church of England Primary School good at its last full inspection on 25 June 2024.
How good are Finmere Church of England Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 88% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 13% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does Finmere Church of England Primary School have?
45 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 70 places, so it is 64% full.
Is Finmere Church of England Primary School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?
Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 3.6 miles away. 8 families put it down as their first choice and 8 of them got in. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.
What is attendance like at Finmere Church of England Primary School?
Pupils were in school 95.5% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 5% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Finmere Church of England Primary School?
The average class had 11.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Mere Road, Finmere, Buckingham, MK18 4AR
- Telephone
- 01280 848459
- Website
- www.finmere.oxon.sch.uk
- Headteacher
- Mrs Clare Law
- Type of school
- Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Oxford
- Multi-academy trust
- The Warriner Multi Academy Trust (10 schools)
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- Ward
- Fringford and Heyfords
- Constituency
- Bicester and Woodstock
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 March 2020 (academy converter)
- URN
- 147753 · LAESTAB 9313090 · UKPRN 10085593
- Formerly
- Finmere Church of England Primary School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Oxfordshire council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.