Four Lanes Infant School

About Four Lanes Infant School

Four Lanes Infant School was rated Good overall by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2023, but the detail tells a more nuanced story. The school achieved Outstanding ratings in three of the five graded categories: early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes. Leadership and management, along with quality of education, were both rated Good. This represents a change from the school’s previous inspection in 2010, when it was judged Outstanding across the board. For a school that only covers Reception to Year 2, the early years rating is particularly telling — it suggests the foundation stage is a real strength. With no Key Stage 2 data available (pupils leave at age seven), the most informative metric is the Ofsted breakdown itself, which shows a school that is strong on pastoral care and early learning but has room to push academic quality further.

Because Four Lanes is an infant school, there are no SATs results or Progress 8 scores to compare against the Hampshire local authority average of 61 per cent achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2. That average applies to primary schools with Year 6 pupils, so it is not directly relevant here. What the data does show is that the school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 175 applications for 89 places, a ratio of nearly two applicants per place. Of those, 88 put it as their first preference, and 80 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests local parents rate the school highly, even if the overall Ofsted grade has slipped from its previous Outstanding. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Marnel Community Infant School, 1.8 kilometres away, which may be a useful comparison for families considering their options.

The school sits on a site with a strong range of facilities for such a young age group, including a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, art studios, a library, sports hall and playing fields. Clubs on offer include drama, choir, gardening, art, coding and book club, while sports provision covers football, dance, cricket and netball. The school supports children with moderate learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, social and emotional mental health needs, and other difficulties or disabilities. With 16 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is slightly above the national average for primary schools, reflecting a mixed catchment. Four Lanes is a good fit for families who want a strong early years foundation in a well-equipped setting, particularly those who value outdoor learning and creative enrichment, and who are comfortable with the transition to a new school at age seven.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Four Lanes Infant School

Helpful Guides for Parents