Fawley Infant School

About Fawley Infant School

Fawley Infant School is a small state primary in the New Forest, Hampshire, currently teaching just 44 pupils against a capacity of 90. That means the school is running at under half its potential size, which is striking for a village infant school. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 31.8%, well above the national average of around 23%, suggesting the school serves a community with higher-than-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, demand for places is strong. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 13 applications for just 3 available places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.33 to one. All three first-preference families were offered a place, but the numbers show that many families who wanted a spot were turned away. This combination of low overall pupil numbers and high demand per place makes Fawley a school that is both intimate in feel and fiercely sought after by local parents.

Academically, Fawley Infant School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023, a rating it has held consistently across both its graded inspections. The breakdown is particularly strong in two areas: personal development and behaviour and attitudes both received Outstanding grades. The quality of education and early years provision were both judged Good, and leadership and management was also Good. Because Fawley is an infant school (ages 4 to 7), it does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results, so direct comparison with the Hampshire local authority average of 61% achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths is not possible. However, the Ofsted report highlights that pupils behave exceptionally well and develop strong personal skills, which is a solid foundation for their move to junior school. The school’s previous inspection in 2013 also awarded Good overall, so there is a clear track record of consistent quality.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, art studios, sports hall and an outdoor playground, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers cross country, gymnastics, football, athletics, tennis and cricket, and there are clubs in art, drama, gardening, choir and film. For children with additional needs, the school supports specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and hearing impairment. With only 44 pupils on roll, class sizes are very small, which can be a major advantage for children who benefit from close attention. The school is oversubscribed, so families should apply early and consider it a first preference. Fawley Infant School is best suited to families in the New Forest area who want a small, community-focused infant school with strong pastoral care and a proven track record of good teaching.

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