Academy sponsor led · Reading

The Palmer Primary Academy

3–11Ages
436Pupils
PrimaryPhase
139653URN

70 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 7PP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

0.5 below Reading median (2.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Reading

116 applications for 58 places · 27th of 36 in Reading

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

66%met the expected standard

Reading 66% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 22 November 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.0applications per place, Reception

0.5 below Reading median (2.5) close to England median (2.2)

116 applications · 58 places offered · 58 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 2.0; Reading median median 2.5
2025 2.0; Reading median median 2.6
2024 2.1; Reading median median 2.5
2023 2.2; Reading median median 2.3
2022 1.7; Reading median median 2.1
2021 1.9; Reading median median 2.3
2020 1.9; Reading median median 2.4
2019 2.4; Reading median median 2.4
2018 2.1; Reading median median 2.5
2017 1.9; Reading median median 2.4
2016 1.7; Reading median median 2.5
2015 1.9; Reading median median 2.4
2014 1.9; Reading median median 2.3

More applications per place than the Reading median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Reading median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	58	116	2.0	58	1.00
Sep 2025	54	107	2.0	53	0.98
Sep 2024	60	126	2.1	55	0.92
Sep 2023	47	101	2.2	46	0.98
Sep 2022	59	99	1.7	53	0.90
Sep 2021	40	77	1.9	34	0.85
Sep 2020	59	113	1.9	59	1.00
Sep 2019	39	93	2.4	37	0.95
Sep 2018	55	116	2.1	46	0.84
Sep 2017	55	104	1.9	45	0.82
Sep 2016	58	96	1.7	40	0.69
Sep 2015	54	101	1.9	45	0.83
Sep 2014	44	83	1.9	27	0.61

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 86% · Writing 70% · Maths 84% → all three 66% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard66%17th of 37 in Reading

Reading 66% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard86%

Reading 77% England 78%

Higher standard43%

Reading 38% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard70%

Reading 72% England 75%

Greater depth9%

Reading 12% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard84%

Reading 75% England 77%

Higher standard36%

Reading 31% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Reading median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	66%	9%	107	107
2023/24	57%	4%	103	102
2022/23	53%	5%	103	103

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Palmer Primary AcademyThis school
This school

Good2022

2.0applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
New Christ Church Church of England Primary School
0.4 km · Reading

Good2022

3.5applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Katesgrove Primary School
1.1 km · Reading

Remains Good2023

2.0applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Whitley Park Primary and Nursery School
1.1 km · Reading

2026

2.5applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Coley Primary School
1.3 km · Reading

Remains Good2024

4.2applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Redlands Primary School
1.4 km · Reading

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.3applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
St Mary & All Saints Church of England Primary School
1.5 km · Reading

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
The Ridgeway Primary School
1.7 km · Reading

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.7applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
St John's Church of England Primary School
1.8 km · Reading

2026

1.9applications per place 58%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139653 · 870/2012
Trust: Reach2 Academy Trust
Capacity: 420 pupils · 436 on roll
Free school meals: 31.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2013
Replaced: George Palmer Primary School (URN 133423)
Address: 70 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 7PP
Local authority: Reading

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources