John Keble Church of England Primary School

We’ve recently transferred our Year 1 daughter to John Keble from a larger, local infant school that was Ofsted outstanding.

The transition to John Keble has been fantastic, and the positive impact on our daughter immediately noticeable. She is clearly much happier than before and excited to go to school. The staff have been incredibly welcoming and so have the other children - the process has felt seamless.

Our daughter has already enjoyed a number of activities that weren’t on offer at her previous school. Within days we were experiencing:

- An emphasis on getting outdoors, not just for Reception children, including an active forest school program.
- More art - with painting and crafts around this terms theme
- Visits during school hours by a yoga teacher, who focused on breath work and regulating emotions, and introduced musical instruments they could play
- Reading more frequently to adults at school, including the head teacher, with written feedback sent home (we didn’t get feedback before!)
- Actual books, not digital copies, sent home to read
- A well regarded phonics program which our daughter was already familiar with, and is enjoying more now given the smaller group/class size
- Older children actively inviting her to join with their games during playtime - a genuinely friendly environment

We’d initially discounted John Keble due to the size of the school - we regret that now, as it makes for a far more personal approach (for parents and pupils). I have no concerns about the academics or communication like I had at our previous school, either.

The location is also very convenient given the agreement with IBM to use their car park or the option to drop off directly at the school gate.

We've had our son at John Keble for 5 years now and we couldn't be happier. The staff are caring, the facilities are top-notch, and the values they teach are exactly what we want our children to learn. The outdoor spaces are a particular highlight - our kids love playing in the woods and gardens!

We've been really pleased with the progress our son has made at John Keble, but there are a few areas where we feel the school could do better. The teachers are generally good, but sometimes it feels like they're too focused on testing and not enough on creativity. Still, the facilities are great and the staff are friendly.

My daughter was a student at John Keble for 3 years and she loved the sense of community. The teachers were patient and supportive, and the programs they offered were engaging and challenging. We especially appreciated the emphasis on Christian values - it was a great way to instill a sense of morality in our child.