Calmore Junior School

About Calmore Junior School

Calmore Junior School is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11 in the New Forest area of Hampshire, and its intake figures tell a clear story. The school has a published capacity of 240 pupils but currently houses 204, meaning it is operating at around 85% of its total space. This suggests there is room for more families, and the school is not oversubscribed in the way many primaries in the region are. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 35.3%, which is notably high — more than double the national average for primary schools, and well above the Hampshire local authority average. This indicates that Calmore serves a community with significant economic disadvantage, and the school’s funding and support structures will reflect that reality. There is no religious character to the school, and it is mixed gender, so it draws from a broad local catchment without any faith-based admissions criteria. The headteacher is Cathy Ingram, who has been leading the school through its recent inspection cycle.

Academically, Calmore Junior School is rated Good by Ofsted, a rating it has held since its most recent graded inspection in 2016, with an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirming the school remains Good. However, the Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 academic year show a mixed picture. Just 51% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Hampshire local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 27th out of 35 primary schools in the New Forest local authority area on this measure, placing it in the bottom 50% nationally. Individual subject scores are more varied: 69% reached the expected standard in reading, 71% in writing, but only 61% in maths. Higher-level attainment is low — just 7% achieved a higher standard in maths and writing, and 20% in reading. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds relative to its starting points, but the raw outcomes are below the local norm.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, library, art studios, and a sensory room, which is a useful resource given the SEND provisions on offer. Calmore supports pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language challenges, hearing impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder — a broad and inclusive SEND offer. Extracurricular activities include football, netball, swimming, dance, cross country, science club, drama and choir. For families considering this school, the key takeaway is that it is a Good-rated, inclusive primary with capacity to spare, serving a disadvantaged community. It may suit parents who prioritise a supportive, well-resourced environment over top-tier academic rankings, and who value the sensory and SEND facilities. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Hazel Wood Infant School, 1.3 km away, which may be a consideration for those comparing options.

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