Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #21 in Reading public Top 46% UK

The Palmer Primary Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMiss Anne Higginbotham

corporate_fareREACH2 ACADEMY TRUST

location_onReading, RG2 7PP

language Visit Website phone 1189375481

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2022

groups

Students

443

school

Expected Standard

66%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

The Palmer Primary Academy is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Reading, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 46% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

The Palmer Primary Academy is an academy sponsor led in Reading, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of REACH2 ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 442 pupils on roll, of whom 27% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 66% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 9% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #21 of 37 primaries in Reading and #7,776 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2022. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 30.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 61%

Reading86% LA 73%

Writing70% LA 69%

Maths84% LA 72%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading67% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing61% LA 65% · Eng 72%

Maths65% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

53%

LA 55%England 60%

Reading62% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Writing60% LA 65% · Eng 71%

Maths67% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.0

Read

LA 0.3

-2.7 to 0.8

-1.1

Write

LA -0.4

-2.8 to 0.5

-0.5

Maths

LA 0.2

-2.1 to 1.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

53%

LA 61%England 65%

Reading55% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Writing69% LA 74% · Eng 78%

Maths74% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.6

Read

LA -0.8

-2.2 to 1.0

0.4

Write

LA -1.1

-1.1 to 1.9

0.7

Maths

LA -0.8

-0.7 to 2.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 57%

Reading62% LA 69%

Writing72% LA 70%

Maths70% LA 67%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2

Read

LA 0.0

-3.8 to -0.2

1.5

Write

LA -0.9

-0.2 to 3.2

0.1

Maths

LA -0.3

-1.5 to 1.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 November 2022

Inspection Report

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06 June 2017

Inspection Report

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02 June 2015

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2022-11-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-06-06

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2015-06-02

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.7%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.4%(6 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 442 pupils. During this period, there were 12 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.7%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	442	12	2.7%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	427	10	2.3%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	464	19	4.1%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	454	12	2.6%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	426	24	5.6%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	459	20	4.4%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	443	10	2.3%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	422	17	4.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	460	6	1.3%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	458	5	1.1%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	429	3	0.7%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	451	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	433	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	403	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	430	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	430	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	416	1	0.2%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	439	3	0.7%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	441	2	0.5%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	420	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	435	1	0.2%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	431	2	0.5%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	428	11	2.6%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	452	6	1.3%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	433	7	1.6%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	424	0	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 32 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 9 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 8 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 8 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

92.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

89.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

21.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree38%

agree42%

disagree14%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree51%

agree42%

disagree5%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree31%

agree25%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

not applicable28%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes17%

no83%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree9%

agree45%

disagree18%

strongly disagree18%

dont know9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree23%

agree45%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know17%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree46%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree46%

agree46%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree45%

agree49%

disagree3%

don't know3%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree43%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree45%

agree43%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

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