Our School

I am delighted to introduce you to our school and would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to your family on behalf of the staff, governors, and parents.

Our small school has a family feel; it is a caring, safe place in which children can develop their confidence and play a full role in the life of the community. Our recent SIAMS review (May 2024) highlighted many wonderful aspects of Checkendon Church of England VA Primary School. The school's vision to ‘unlock the unique voice within each child’ is deeply woven into the fabric of daily school life. The Christian ethos is evident in high aspirations for both learning and personal development, with the curriculum setting ambitious expectations. Pupils embrace these challenges, excelling in areas such as sports, music, art, and drama. The school makes excellent use of its rural setting, aiming to have all pupils and adults experience God's love throughout their surroundings. This is beautifully summarised in the review with the quote, "God is found everywhere. Outside, inside, in children, in staff – threaded through everything."

Memorable learning experiences, such as engaging with visitors, contribute to a rich curriculum that celebrates each child's unique strengths. We use the phrase ‘not yet’ to foster an exceptionally positive learning environment, underscoring the aspiration for lifelong learning. Outdoor learning opportunities are particularly valued for their role in building resilience, courage, and appreciation for the environment.

Collective worship is a cornerstone of school life, enriched by a strong partnership with the neighbouring parish church. Pupils participate in planning and leading worship, aiding their spiritual growth and helping school leaders reflect on their practices. As one of the pupils noted, "The stories of Jesus and the morals behind them are still relevant to today’s life."

Inclusivity and support are prominent, with older pupils helping younger ones and staff providing personalised support to ensure every child flourishes. The school community is described by parents as a “beautifully inclusive” space, noted for its strong sense of belonging.

The curriculum actively promotes equality and diversity, inspiring pupils to engage with local and national issues. Though they have a local impact, the school recognises the potential for pupils to extend their reach globally.

In Religious Education, the tailored curriculum, supported by the diocese, ensures balanced coverage of world religious and non-religious views. Creative teaching ignites pupils' imagination, helping them explore deep questions. Pupils have a strong grasp of world religions, but there is room for growth in discussing non-religious worldviews.

In summary, the inspection confirms that Checkendon School is not only living up to its foundation as a Church school but also thriving as a nurturing community committed to unlocking the potential within every pupil.

We are proud of our wonderful school and its many achievements, not least the consistently excellent Key Stage 2 results achieved by Checkendon pupils. DfE figures place us in the top 2 local schools (out of 9) across a three-year average for reading and for Math.

We offer a hugely dedicated staff team, small classes, strong school values, gold-level sports activities - we were awarded Gold Sports Mark in July 2023.

We enjoy our weekly forest school sessions where we listen to birdsong, watch the bluebells grow, build dens, and immerse ourselves in nature. We cherish our local environment and take advantage of it by going on frequent visits and inviting visitors to our school.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a meeting to talk about what the school can offer your child, please email me at head.3801@checkendon.oxon.sch.uk

Our school Twitter and Instagram pages are a great insight into the experiences of the children at Checkendon Primary School. You can follow these feeds via: