School Chooser

Kennet Valley Primary School

Primary · ages 4-11MixedCouncil198 pupilsReadingWest Berkshire
School Chooser Score
25
Below
similar schools
Likely range 11 to 52, so it could be “in line”
Out of 100. Better than 50% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedReport cardOfsted report card, March 2026
Reached the expected level at 1166%England 63%
Attendance94.4%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families25%About the same as most schools in England
Parents would recommend42%33 Parent View responses
Places12 spare198 pupils, 210 places

Kennet Valley Primary School is a council school in Reading for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 198 pupils and room for 210. About 25 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, about the same as most schools in England. We give it 25 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 50% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in March 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Carters Rise, Calcot, Reading, RG31 7YT0118 941 4410kennetvalley.w-berks.sch.ukMr Adam Abery headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 17 March 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
1 April 2025S5 InspectionNot judged

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

29 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1166%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level3%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score106.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score104.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 45%45%20172018: 46%46%20182019: 21%21%20192023: 64%64%20232024: 37%37%20242025: 66%66%2025
Since 2017: +21%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017West BerkshireEngland
Pupils tested293028292829
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths66%37%64%21%46%45%57%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths3%7%4%3%7%7%7%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0103.0105.098.0103.0104.0105.3105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score104.0103.0105.098.0104.0100.0103.8104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score107.0104.0104.098.0104.0102.0104.5105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard69%60%75%31%61%69%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard69%57%75%31%75%55%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)66%57%71%59%61%55%
Reading progressReading progress score+0.0-1.5-2.5-0.5
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.5-2.8-1.0-3.5
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged38%10%43%9%29%22%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged76%50%71%28%52%55%

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.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 2 of the 4 gaps are smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
38%76%
Gap 38 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
54%75%
Gap 21 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
63%66%
Gap 3 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%3%
Gap 3 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

A few spare places196 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
93% full

About 14 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 4% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

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. Every child who applied got a place (24 offers for 30 places).

EntryPlacesGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary3024all offeredLA

What parents say

Would recommend the school42%England 87%
My child is happy here55%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe58%
Positive overall26%
My child is happy at this school
55%England 89%
My child feels safe at this school
58%England 90%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
39%England 83%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
33% yesEngland 18%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
27%England 50%
My child gets the right support to learn well
43%England 85%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
52% yesEngland 26%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
18%England 71%
The school communicates well with me
33%England 80%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
24%England 69%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
36%England 82%
I would recommend this school
42%England 87%
Overall view of the school is positive
26%England 82%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 33 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.

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.

Pupils on roll198Census January 2026
Places21094% full
Pupils from low-income families25%25% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English17%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support18%36 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan13%25 pupils with a plan
Average class size26.05 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)22%£65,100 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls107 / 91
White British pupils60%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 12 pupils, for autism, social, emotional and mental health.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in West Berkshire with autism provision.

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 24.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 28.5 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (16), emotional and mental health (13), language and communications needs (13), Moderate learning difficulty (5), Other difficulty or disability (5), Severe learning difficulty (4).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll198200193202206194
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals25%23%24%20%23%22%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language17%20%19%21%17%16%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support17%15%13%14%15%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans8%4%3%3%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance94.4%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school13.6%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils9.02024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.0%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence5.6%6.2%5.8%5.8%3.3%4.9%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.6%5.4%4.6%4.9%2.2%3.8%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.0%0.8%1.2%1.0%1.1%1.0%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence13.6%19.9%16.0%18.8%5.1%11.7%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate9.03.64.511.71.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions01000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers14.5full-time equivalent, 16 people
Pupils per teacher13.7Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers94%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants21.4full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,637
Teachers who left in the year16%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher10.32024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£8,557England £7,738. Total £1.7m
Income per pupil£8,687England £7,697. Total £1.7m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,762England £3,480
Money in reserve2%Very little put by: £36k, £181 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out+£26kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£8,557spent per pupil

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

Crimes within 500 m27812 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate57 per 1,000 people37% lower than the England average
Typical house price£399,950West Berkshire
Nearest bus stop50 mKennet Valley School, 20 stops within 500 m

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.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Manor Primary SchoolCouncil590 m294Good 202353Compare
Churchend Primary AcademyAcademy0.7 miles401Good 202264Compare
St Michael's Primary SchoolCouncil0.8 miles362Good 202314Compare
Southcote Primary SchoolCouncil0.9 miles528Good 202314Compare
English Martyrs' Catholic Primary SchoolRoman Catholic0.9 miles408Good 202465Compare
Moorlands Primary SchoolCouncil1.1 miles286Good 202060Compare
Calcot Infant School and NurseryCouncil1.1 miles217Good 202357Compare
Calcot Junior SchoolCouncil1.1 miles264Good 202321Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Kennet Valley Primary School with the 6 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 6 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats50%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 25 is about the same as the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 28 · highest 42100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 25 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 25% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 11 to 52. 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 atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%below
-0.11
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 29 pupils
Ofsted inspection0%no data
Ofsted report card, 0.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.07
DfE progress measure; 29 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
-0.03
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
-0.02
2024/25; 177 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.05
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 29 pupils
What parents say5%well below
-0.19
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 33 responses

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 Kennet Valley Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. Kennet Valley Primary School scores 25 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 50% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 11 to 52, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is Kennet Valley Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 17 March 2026 it rated .

How good are Kennet Valley Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 66% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 3% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does Kennet Valley Primary School have?

198 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 94% full.

Is Kennet Valley Primary School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 14 places were empty in 2024/25 (7% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Kennet Valley Primary School?

Pupils were in school 94.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 14% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about Kennet Valley Primary School?

42% of the 33 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 55% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at Kennet Valley Primary School?

The average class had 26.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does Kennet Valley Primary School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for autism, social, emotional and mental health. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Carters Rise, Calcot, Reading, RG31 7YT
Telephone
0118 941 4410
Website
www.kennetvalley.w-berks.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mr Adam Abery
Type of school
Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 4-11
Gender
Mixed
Local authority
West Berkshire
Ward
Tilehurst South & Holybrook
Constituency
Reading West and Mid Berkshire
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
109898 · LAESTAB 8692180 · UKPRN 10068954

Where these figures come from