Gurnard Primary School
99%
Capacity
414
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Gurnard Primary School
Gurnard Primary School is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, located in the Isle of Wight local authority. It currently ranks second out of 35 primary schools in the area, placing it firmly among the top performers on the island. Its closest peer, Wootton Community Primary School, holds the top spot, while Dover Park Primary School and Niton Primary School round out the immediate competition. The school is led by headteacher Clemma Yardley and has a capacity of 420 pupils, with 414 currently on roll. Oversubscription is a clear sign of its local reputation: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 91 applications for 59 places, with 62 of those applications coming as first preferences. That works out to roughly 1.5 applicants for every available place, and all 59 offers went to first-preference families.
Academically, Gurnard performs well above the Isle of Wight average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of just 52%. The school’s ranking score of 71 places it in the top 50 nationally for this metric. Average scaled scores were 106 in reading and 105 in maths, and a notable 29% of pupils achieved the higher standard in maths. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025, the school was judged Good overall, with Outstanding ratings for early years provision, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes. Leadership and management, along with quality of education, were rated Good. The previous inspection in 2012 also rated the school Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.
The school offers a strong set of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, library, ICT suite and a gymnasium, alongside clubs such as drama, choir, coding and chess. Sports provision covers football, tennis, dance and athletics. SEND support is broad, covering areas from dyslexia and speech and language needs to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disability. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 98% of respondents would recommend the school, and 100% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. The school is well suited to families on the Isle of Wight who want a high-performing, oversubscribed primary with strong pastoral care and a wide range of enrichment opportunities, though the competition for places means early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Baring Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 8DS |
| Headteacher | Clemma Yardley |
| Local Authority | Isle of Wight |
| Number of Pupils | 414 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 7.7% |
| School Capacity | 414 / 420 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Feb 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (71%)
3818th of 13,686
Nationally
521st of 2,034
In South East
2nd of 35
In Isle of Wight
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
71%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
69%
'23/24
71%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
81 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed59
91
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
62 families put this school as their 1st choice (68% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.8%
- White (other)2.7%
- Mixed2.4%
- Asian0.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gurnard Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Baring Road, Cowes
Isle of Wight, PO31 8DS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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