Cropredy C of E Primary School, Cropredy, near Banbury, Oxfordshire. It has recently changed and for the better since the EPA Trust assumed operational control effective January 2024. Once operated by Oxfordshire County Council, the school’s new ownership is now looking to improve facilities for its 200 pupils. Head teacher Will Reeves, who came to the school in May 2024. He’s gone as far as rolling up his sleeves and trying to create a more positive learning climate by spending time painting a previously-battered hallway.
The collaboration between Reeves, Louise Shore, chair of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and pupils exemplifies the community spirit at Cropredy. Together, they reimagined an important part of their school in the process. Not only did this change improve student morale, but it created an incredible level of community ownership and pride from students and parents.
As a result, today Cropredy C of E Primary School has a hard time offering the appropriate tech to their students. The school’s ambition is to eventually put a laptop in the hands of every student in the class. They only have 15 laptops to serve 200 children. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), classroom costs are expected to swell by £3.5 billion. Indeed, they project these costs to exceed their funding by 3.6% in the 2025-26 academic year.
Head teacher Will Reeves issued a stark warning that the school is almost at the point of closing wing. As he pointed out, other areas of the school are “worse for wear,” underscoring the importance for continued maintenance and investment. “In an ideal world, you always want a little bit more. We’ve just tried to make the best of the situation we’re in,” said Reeves.
The EPA Trust has been super, super supportive. They give vital sustained funding for chelsea small projects, such as the long-overdue rebuilding of Cropredy’s deteriorating early years buildings. This assistance comes at an especially critical time. Local schools face the common budgetary pressures of declining births and enrollment in the region. An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson stated, “Primary schools are particularly challenged currently due to falling birth rates, which for some schools mean a year-on-year reduction in their budget due to fewer pupils applying for a place.”
Even though the clouds look heavy, Louise Shore is finding a silver lining. She thinks Cropredy C of E Primary School has been in a good place over the last year. “It’s nice to be able to get everyone together to help improve the school, whether it’s something like painting or fundraising,” she remarked. She emphasized the importance of parental involvement in creating a better environment for children: “We feel if we can contribute to children’s environment, as well as their education, it’s really important we’re able to do so.”
The community remains committed to improving Cropredy C of E Primary School and keeping it open. Parents, educators, and students are working together to make a better future for the children of their community.
