Bembridge Church of England Primary School

About Bembridge Church of England Primary School

Bembridge Church of England Primary School sits comfortably above the Isle of Wight average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 64% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the local authority average of 52%. That twelve-point gap places the school ninth out of 36 primary schools on the island, putting it in the top quarter locally. The picture is strongest in reading, where the average scaled score of 108 is well above the national benchmark of 100, and half of all pupils achieved the higher standard. Maths is solid too, with a 104 average score and three-quarters of children meeting expectations. Writing is the relative weak spot: 68% reached the expected level and only 11% hit the higher standard, though that still keeps the school ahead of the LA average overall. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained at Good, with behaviour and attitudes judged Outstanding — a notable strength that parents seem to recognise.

Looking at the Ofsted breakdown, the school has held a Good rating across all graded areas since its last full inspection in 2019, when leadership and management, quality of education, early years provision and personal development all received a Good. Behaviour and attitudes, however, was rated Outstanding in that inspection and remains a standout feature. The previous graded inspection in 2011 had awarded Outstanding overall, so the current Good rating represents a step down, but the 2025 ungraded visit suggests things are stable. Parent feedback from the 2024/25 survey period is mixed but broadly positive: 79% of the 53 respondents said their child is happy at the school, and 82% agreed their child does well there. However, only 55% felt concerns are dealt with properly, and a quarter disagreed that the school has high expectations for their child. The SEND question received no responses at all, which makes it hard to gauge support for children with additional needs.

The school is a Church of England primary with 185 pupils on roll, operating below its capacity of 210. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, with 37 applications for 24 places and all 24 first-preference families offered a spot — a ratio of 1.54 applicants per place. Facilities include a gymnasium, forest school, outdoor playground, ICT suite, playing fields, dining hall and a chapel, which reflects its faith designation. Sports provision covers swimming, cricket, athletics, rounders and tennis, while clubs extend to coding, chess, gardening, choir, film club and drama. The school lists SEND support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. For families on the Isle of Wight who want a primary with above-average academic outcomes, strong behaviour standards and a clear Christian character, Bembridge is a solid option — though the mixed parent views on communication and expectations are worth investigating further.

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