Carisbrooke Church of England Controlled Primary School

About Carisbrooke Church of England Controlled Primary School

Carisbrooke Church of England Controlled Primary School is a mixed, state primary for ages 5 to 11, and it’s clearly a popular choice among Isle of Wight families. With 370 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is running close to full but still has some room. The real story is in the demand: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 108 applications for just 42 places, with 49 of those as first preferences. That’s an oversubscription ratio of 2.57, meaning nearly three families compete for every spot. The school made 38 first-preference offers, so while most local families who put it first got in, it’s not a guarantee. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 26.8%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23%, suggesting the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage.

Academically, Carisbrooke performs solidly within the local context. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 58% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That’s above the Isle of Wight local authority average of 52%, placing the school 13th out of 35 primary schools in the area. In the South East region, it ranks in the 60th percentile, and nationally it sits around the same mark. Looking at individual subjects, 68% met the expected standard in maths and 67% in writing, while reading was slightly lower at 65%. The average scaled scores were 103 for maths and 104 for reading, both just above the national benchmark of 100. Higher-attaining pupils are less common here: 25% achieved the higher standard in maths, 23% in reading, but only 5% in writing. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with an Outstanding mark for personal development.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, an outdoor playground, art studios and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers football, cricket, tennis, swimming, rounders, dance and cross country, and there are clubs for drama, art, eco, gardening and book club. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment and physical disability. For families considering Carisbrooke, the key takeaway is that it’s a Good-rated, oversubscribed school with above-average KS2 outcomes for the Isle of Wight, serving a relatively disadvantaged intake. If you live within catchment and can secure a place, it offers strong personal development and a broad extracurricular programme, though the nearest Outstanding-rated alternative, Nine Acres Primary School, is just 0.7 km away.

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