Hermitage Primary School

About Hermitage Primary School

Hermitage Primary School is a state primary in West Berkshire, a local authority with 67 primary schools in total. The school currently ranks 47th within the LA based on the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2, placing it in the bottom half of local primaries. For context, the top-performing peers in the area include The Ilsleys Primary School, Robert Sandilands Primary School and Nursery, and Sulhamstead and Ufton Nervet School. Hermitage is a mixed, non-religious school for children aged 4 to 11, with no nursery provision. It has a capacity of 210 pupils but currently enrols 175, meaning there is some room for growth. The school is led by headteacher Gillian Turner and was inspected by Ofsted in March 2025, receiving a Good rating overall, with personal development judged Outstanding. The previous inspection in 2016 also rated the school Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.

Academically, Hermitage’s most recent Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 academic year show that 43% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. This is below the West Berkshire LA average of 57%. In reading, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard and 23% achieved a higher standard, with an average score of 104. In maths, 63% met the expected standard and 23% reached a higher standard, with an average score of 102. Writing saw 50% of pupils reach the expected standard, with none achieving a higher standard. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 12% of all primary schools on this combined measure, and within the South East region it sits in the 89th percentile. The school’s Ofsted report noted that behaviour and attitudes, quality of education, and leadership and management are all Good, while early years provision is also Good. Personal development was singled out as Outstanding.

Hermitage offers a range of facilities including a library, playing fields, music rooms, a sports hall and a chapel. Sports on offer include dance, rounders, football, cricket, athletics and netball, while clubs extend to coding, drama, science club, gardening and art club. The school has a number of SEND provisions in place, supporting children with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent feedback is very positive: 98% of the 54 respondents would recommend the school, and 94% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed with 45 applications for 26 places, and 23 of those were first-preference applications. This suggests a school that is well-regarded locally, particularly by families who value its strong pastoral care and personal development focus, even if academic outcomes are more modest than some nearby alternatives.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Hermitage Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents