SchoolScoresMerton Infant School and Nursery
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Romsey Close, Popley Way, Popley, Basingstoke, RG24 9HB
01256 324507 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 8 July 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Basingstoke comparisons use the 19 of its 42 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 23 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Basingstoke | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basingstoke. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basingstoke. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 6th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basingstoke. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 90% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 15 parents who had raised a concern Joint 9th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basingstoke. Higher than 61% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 84% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 6th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Basingstoke. Higher than 67% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 9%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Basingstoke figures pool parents at the Basingstoke schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Hampshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 46 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 36 |
| Of those, offered a place | 36 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 119 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 15th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.4% | 20.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 15th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 29th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 39.5% | 11.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 20th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 72% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 4.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 26th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 57% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.7% | 9.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 53% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 20th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 42% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 42 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 98% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 28.2 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 12th highest of 42 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 65% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 37th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 14.5%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Merton Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oakridge Infant School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 strong
- Oakridge Junior School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), improved significantly 2025 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- South View Infant and Nursery School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed with concerns 2024
- South View Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marnel Junior School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marnel Community Infant School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
- Sherborne St John CofE Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Winklebury Junior School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Merton Infant School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 8 July 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Merton Infant School and Nursery?
95% of the 20 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Merton Infant School and Nursery to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Merton Infant School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 36 families put Merton Infant School and Nursery as their first choice for 46 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 36 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 116004.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.