Dover Park Primary School

About Dover Park Primary School

Dover Park Primary School sends a strong signal to parents that it is a popular choice. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 88 applications for just 28 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.14. Of those, 41 families put it as their first preference, and 27 of those were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a school that local families trust and actively want their children to attend. The school is led by headteacher Jonathan Kirby and is a mixed, state primary for children aged 4 to 11, located on the Isle of Wight. It has no religious character and does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form. With 207 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, it is running very close to full, which reinforces the sense of a school that is in high demand within its community.

Academically, Dover Park performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Isle of Wight average of 52%. That puts the school third out of 35 primary schools in the local authority, placing it in the top 10% locally. Looking at individual subjects, 77% met the expected standard in reading, 80% in writing, and 83% in maths. At the higher standard, 40% of pupils achieved that level in reading, 17% in writing, and 10% in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 confirmed it remains Good overall, with leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour all rated Good. This is a clear improvement from its 2016 inspection, when the school was rated Requires Improvement.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a sports hall, library, art studios and a dining hall. Sports on offer include dance, cross country, rounders, gymnastics, netball and tennis, while clubs extend to chess, choir, book club, science club and art club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 30.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. This is a primary that suits families who value strong academic outcomes relative to the local area, a school that is clearly popular and oversubscribed, and one that has demonstrated sustained improvement under its current leadership.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Dover Park Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents