Bitterne Manor Primary School

About Bitterne Manor Primary School

Bitterne Manor Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families, with 95 applications for just 29 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. That works out at an oversubscription ratio of 3.28, meaning more than three families applied for every available spot. Of those 95 applicants, 37 put the school down as their first preference, and all 29 places went to first-preference families. While the school doesn't publish a formal parent recommendation percentage, the sheer demand suggests strong word-of-mouth. The school is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site, and is rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in June 2024. In that inspection, behaviour and attitudes were judged Outstanding, which is often the kind of detail that reassures parents looking for a calm, purposeful environment.

Academically, Bitterne Manor's Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 48%, which is below the Southampton local authority average of 55%. In reading, 76% of pupils met the expected standard and 17% reached the higher standard, with an average score of 105. Maths was a weaker area: 66% met the expected standard, 14% reached the higher standard, and the average score was 103. Writing was the lowest, with 62% at the expected level and none reaching the higher standard. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% of primaries on the combined expected standard measure, sitting at 11,078 out of 13,686 schools. Within Southampton, it ranks 33rd out of 42 primaries. The school's previous Ofsted inspection in 2016 rated it Outstanding overall, so the drop to Good in 2024 represents a real change in quality of education.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for its size, including an ICT suite, gymnasium, sports hall and a forest school area, plus a chapel. Sports provision is strong, with cricket, netball, athletics, tennis, swimming and gymnastics all on offer, and there are clubs including book club, chess and eco club. For families with children who need extra support, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With 29.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. Bitterne Manor is a good fit for families who prioritise a school with strong behaviour standards and a community feel, but who are comfortable with academic results that sit below the local average. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Mount Pleasant Infants, 1.2 km away, which may be worth a look for comparison.

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