Cornerstone CofE (VA) Primary School

About Cornerstone CofE (VA) Primary School

Cornerstone CofE (VA) Primary School in Winchester is a Church of England primary that currently educates 391 pupils, well below its capacity of 630. This leaves significant room for growth, but the school is already heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 165 applications for just 89 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.85, with all 76 first-preference applicants receiving offers. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 19.2%, which is notably higher than the national primary average and suggests the school serves a genuinely mixed catchment. Despite this, the school ranks 4th out of 35 primary schools in the Winchester local authority area, placing it in the top 25% nationally for Key Stage 2 outcomes. Its nearest outstanding-rated neighbour is Whiteley Primary School, 1.3 km away, but Cornerstone’s strong local reputation and high demand suggest it holds its own.

Academically, Cornerstone delivers results that comfortably exceed local and national benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 61%. The school’s average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 109 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 21% of pupils achieved the top scores across all three subjects, with 47% hitting that level in maths alone. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2024, judged that the school had improved significantly since its previous graded inspection in 2015, when it was rated Good overall, with Good marks for leadership, management and early years provision. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 94% of respondents would recommend the school, and 98% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there.

The school’s facilities are generous for a primary, including a library, sports hall, music rooms, art studios, a chapel and extensive playing fields. Sports provision covers rounders, football, cricket, netball and dance, while extracurricular clubs include chess, art and science. Cornerstone’s SEND register is broad, with support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties and social, emotional and mental health needs. In the parent view survey, 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, though 10% strongly disagreed, indicating some variation in experience. With its Church of England character, strong academic results and clear oversubscription, this school will suit families who value a community-focused, high-performing state primary with a genuinely inclusive intake and a wide range of facilities.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Cornerstone CofE (VA) Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents