Horningsham Primary School

About Horningsham Primary School

Horningsham Primary School is a small state primary in Wiltshire that clearly appeals to local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 11 applications for just 5 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.2. All 5 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while demand is strong, those who put it first are likely to get in. The school has a capacity of 84 but currently has only 70 pupils on roll, so there is some room to grow. Parent satisfaction data isn't available here, but the oversubscription figures alone indicate a school that local parents are actively choosing. Headteacher Odele Lapham leads a mixed-gender, non-religious primary for children aged 5 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in 2021, confirmed it 'remains Good', a rating it has held consistently across its previous graded inspections.

Academically, Horningsham's most recent graded inspection dates back to 2011, when it received a Good overall effectiveness rating with Good marks for leadership, management, and early years provision. The school's early years provision was rated Good at that time, and the 2021 ungraded inspection found no reason to change the overall judgement. For Key Stage 2 outcomes, the local authority average for Wiltshire primary schools is 58 per cent of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Horningsham's own KS2 results are not provided in the data, so it's not possible to say how it compares directly. However, the school sits in a competitive local landscape: top-performing peers include Stanton St Quintin Primary and Nursery School, The Holy Trinity Church of England Primary Academy, and Sutton Veny CofE School, all of which rank highly within the authority's 201 primary schools. Only 6 schools in Wiltshire hold an Outstanding rating, so a Good rating here is a solid, respectable outcome.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, music rooms, art studios, an ICT suite, a gymnasium, playing fields, and even a chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, dance, rounders, and cross country, while extracurricular clubs include coding, chess, book club, choir, and film club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, and other disabilities. This breadth of SEND provision is a notable strength for a small school. Horningsham is a good fit for families who want a genuinely local, oversubscribed village primary with a strong community feel and a consistent track record of Good Ofsted outcomes. Its small size means children are likely to be well-known to staff, and the range of clubs and facilities suggests a school that makes the most of its resources.

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