Balksbury Junior School
104%
Capacity
373
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Balksbury Junior School
Balksbury Junior School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it earned in its most recent graded inspection in 2016 and confirmed through an ungraded inspection in 2025 that found the school had improved significantly. That improvement story is backed up by the school’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 academic year, where 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits just above the Hampshire local authority average of 61%, placing Balksbury in the top half of primary schools nationally, at the 50th percentile. The school also performs well in individual subjects: 87% of pupils met the expected standard in writing, 76% in maths and 74% in reading. At the higher standard, 11% of pupils achieved the top marks across all three subjects, with writing leading at 24% and reading at 23%.
The school’s Ofsted report highlights strong leadership and management, both rated Good, and the inspection noted that behaviour and attitudes, while not separately graded in the most recent report, were a clear strength. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 98% of the 53 respondents would recommend the school, and 100% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. The school is slightly oversubscribed, with 373 pupils on roll against a capacity of 360, and 17.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Balksbury is a junior school, taking children from age 7 to 11, and sits within the Test Valley borough in Hampshire.
Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, ICT suite, forest school area, sensory room, art studios and music rooms, plus a chapel. The school offers a range of clubs including coding, book club, art club, science club and chess, and sports cover athletics, football, netball and cross country. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families looking for a well-regarded state primary in Test Valley that combines solid academic outcomes with strong pastoral care and a wide extracurricular offer, Balksbury Junior School is a strong contender.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 7 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Floral Way, Andover, Test Valley, SP10 3QP |
| Headteacher | Katy Thompson |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 373 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.4% |
| School Capacity | 373 / 360 (104% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Apr 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (2 Apr 2025): Improved significantly
Source: Ofsted, 10 May 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (63%)
6806th of 13,686
Nationally
956th of 2,034
In South East
15th of 40
In Test Valley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
63%
Expected Standard
11%
Higher Standard
'22/23
63%
'23/24
63%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
53 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British83.6%
- White (other)4.0%
- Mixed3.8%
- Asian2.7%
- Black1.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Balksbury Junior School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Floral Way, Andover
Test Valley, SP10 3QP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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