Bitterne Park Primary & Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools

About Bitterne Park Primary & Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools

Bitterne Park Primary & Nursery School sits within the Southampton local authority, where it ranks 7th out of 42 primary schools, placing it in the top 25% of its type in the area. Among its closest-performing peers are Mansel Park Primary & Nursery School, Springhill Catholic Primary School, and Sinclair Primary and Nursery School, all of which also belong to the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools. The school is one of only seven primaries in Southampton to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its most recent inspections. In its latest graded inspection in May 2025, inspectors awarded the top mark of 1 (Outstanding) across every category assessed: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The previous inspection, in September 2014, had also rated the school Outstanding overall. With 627 pupils on roll against a capacity of 630, the school is effectively full, and 18.2% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals.

Academically, Bitterne Park performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 76% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Southampton average of 55%. The school’s average scores in reading and maths were both 107, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. A notable 15% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, while 35% reached the higher standard in maths, 30% in reading, and 27% in writing. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 18% of all primaries for the proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard in all three subjects. In the South East region, it sits 333rd out of 2,034 schools, placing it in the top 17% regionally. The school does not have a sixth form, as it caters for children from age 2 to 11, and its nursery provision means families can start their child’s education here from the earliest stage.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 169 applications for 87 places, a ratio of nearly two applicants per place, and all 81 first-preference applicants were offered a spot. Facilities include a library, playing fields, a sports hall, an ICT suite, and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, dance, cricket, rounders, and netball, while clubs range from chess and drama to science, eco, and coding clubs. The school’s SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Parent View responses from 150 families show strong satisfaction: 89% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and 90% felt their child is safe. However, only 44% of parents felt that SEND children receive the support they need, with 49% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing on that point. This school will suit families who value strong academic outcomes and a well-established local reputation, but those with children requiring SEND support may want to investigate further.

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