Hollybrook Infant School
About Hollybrook Infant School
Hollybrook Infant School is a state primary in Southampton that serves 173 pupils, just shy of its 180-place capacity. The school's intake reflects a notably higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, at 16.8%, compared with the national primary average of around 23% — so it sits below the national figure but still indicates a significant level of disadvantage in the local community. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 115 applications for 48 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.4 applicants per place. Of those, 41 were first-preference applications, and all 41 received offers. This suggests that families in the area actively seek out Hollybrook, and the school is comfortably oversubscribed without being unattainable. The school is non-denominational, with no religious character, and is co-educational for children aged 4 to 7. Headteacher Marcella Dobson leads a team that, according to the most recent Ofsted parent view snapshot (covering September 2024 to September 2025), enjoys overwhelming support: 97% of the 35 respondents would recommend the school to other parents.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 35 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Jun 2025Latest monitoring visit (4 Jun 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 9 Mar 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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