Denmead Junior School

About Denmead Junior School

Denmead Junior School is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11 in the Winchester borough, part of Hampshire. It currently has 336 pupils on roll against a capacity of 360, meaning it is close to full but not oversubscribed. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 23.8%, which is significantly above the national average for primary schools and suggests a catchment with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage. The school does not have a religious character, so admissions are handled by the local authority without a faith-based criterion. While the data does not include specific admission numbers or a waiting list, the fact that the school is operating at just over 93% capacity suggests there is some local demand, but not the intense competition seen at some of the area's top-performing primaries. Parents responding to the Ofsted Parent View questionnaire were overwhelmingly positive: 85% would recommend the school, and 90% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy here.

Academically, Denmead Junior School's most recent graded inspection was in 2016, when it was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. A subsequent ungraded inspection in February 2025 noted that some aspects were not as strong, though the overall rating remains Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014, which rated the school Inadequate. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 53% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Hampshire local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 33rd out of 35 primaries in Winchester on this metric, placing it in the bottom 50% nationally. Average scores were 103 in maths and 104 in reading, both slightly below the national average. Only 1% of pupils achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, and progress measures are not available in the data.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, forest school area, ICT suite, music rooms, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, netball, football, gymnastics, cricket and dance, while clubs include coding, drama, science club, eco club and gardening. SEND support is listed for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. However, the Parent View data shows a split on SEND support: 59% agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 41% disagreed or strongly disagreed, suggesting this is an area of concern for some families. This school would suit parents who value a non-faith, inclusive primary with strong pastoral care as reflected in parent satisfaction, but who are comfortable with below-average academic outcomes compared to the local authority.

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