Castle Hill Infant School

About Castle Hill Infant School

Castle Hill Infant School serves children from ages 4 to 7, and while the school itself doesn't publish Key Stage 2 results (its pupils move on before that stage), the local authority average for primary schools in Hampshire sits at 61. What stands out more immediately is the school's behaviour and attitudes rating, which Ofsted graded as Outstanding in its most recent 2022 inspection. That's a stronger result than the overall Good rating the school received, and it suggests a calm, focused environment that younger children respond well to. The school is also oversubscribed by a ratio of 2.07, with 120 applications for 58 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 49 of those offers went to first-preference families. That level of demand, combined with a Good Ofsted rating, puts Castle Hill in a solid position compared with the wider Hampshire primary landscape, where only 33 out of 425 schools hold an Outstanding rating.

Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2022 rated the quality of education as Good, with early years provision also judged Good. The leadership and management team, led by headteacher Emma Fitzpatrick, received a Good rating too. The standout grade was for behaviour and attitudes, which was rated Outstanding, and this aligns with the school's relatively low percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals at 14.4%, slightly below the national average. The school has 181 pupils on roll, just one over its official capacity of 180, which indicates it is running at full stretch. While there are no published SATs or Progress 8 scores for this age group, the Ofsted breakdown provides a clear picture: the school has maintained a Good standard since its previous inspection in 2008, when it was rated Outstanding overall, though the grading framework has since changed.

For families considering Castle Hill, the practical offer is strong. The school provides a sensory room, a forest school, a library, and a chapel, alongside a sports hall and playing fields. Sports include swimming, gymnastics, and dance, while clubs range from chess and coding to eco club and gardening. The school supports children with moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs, which is useful for parents whose children may need extra help in the early years. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, 2.7 km away, so Castle Hill is a realistic choice for families who want a Good-rated infant school that is clearly popular locally. It suits families who value strong behaviour standards, a broad range of activities, and a school that is full to capacity with high demand for places.

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