SchoolScoresSherborne St John CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Church Lane, Sherborne St John, Basingstoke, RG24 9HT
01256 850180 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 May 2026 , published 29 June 2026.
In short: 6 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
14 pupils in this year group.
71% — 8 points above the Hampshire average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 9% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 86% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 93% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
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 about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 18 |
| Of those, offered a place | 16 (89%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 52 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 1.1
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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hampshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 27th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 32% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.8% | 20.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 21st highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 25th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.4% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 31st highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.4% | 11.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 4.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 85% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 9.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 39th lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 32nd lowest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.87% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 14th highest of 42 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 67% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.0 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 20th highest of 42 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 51% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.8 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 8th highest of 41 state primary schools in Basingstoke. Higher than 72% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 19.6% | 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
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Merton Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Merton Infant School and Nursery 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Oakridge Infant School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 strong
- Marnel Community Infant School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
- Marnel Junior School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oakridge Junior School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), improved significantly 2025 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Winklebury Junior School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- South View Infant and Nursery School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed with concerns 2024
- Winklebury Infant School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Sherborne St John CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sherborne St John CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Sherborne St John CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Sherborne St John CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put Sherborne St John CofE Primary School as their first choice for 16 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 16 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 116315.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.