Nettlestone Primary School

About Nettlestone Primary School

Nettlestone Primary School sits right on the Isle of Wight's average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 52% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths — exactly matching the local authority average of 52%. That places it 17th out of 36 primary schools on the island, a solidly mid-table position. What stands out more is the spread within those results: reading (76% expected) and writing (83% expected) are notably stronger than maths, where only 59% hit the expected mark and just 3% reached the higher standard. The school's average maths score of 100 is bang on the national benchmark, while reading's average of 104 edges above it. For parents comparing options, Nettlestone isn't a standout performer in the LA rankings, but it's delivering broadly typical outcomes for the area, with a clear strength in literacy over numeracy.

The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024 confirmed a Good rating overall, with personal development judged Outstanding — the only Outstanding grade on the island for that category. Behaviour and attitudes, leadership, quality of education, and early years provision all scored Good. That's a consistent picture compared with the previous inspection in 2014, which also rated overall effectiveness as Good. On the academic side, no progress scores are available for reading, writing or maths, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. But the KS2 results show that while the proportion reaching the higher standard is low — 0% in reading, writing and maths combined — the school is getting the vast majority of children to the expected level in reading and writing, which is a solid foundation for secondary school.

Nettlestone is a three-form entry primary with nursery provision, currently slightly oversubscribed: 45 applications for 25 places in 2025/26, with 23 first-preference offers made. The school serves 214 pupils against a capacity of 210, so it's running full. Facilities include a Forest School, art studios, a sports hall, a sensory room and a chapel, plus clubs ranging from choir and gardening to coding. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech and language communication needs. For families on the Isle of Wight, this is a well-regarded local primary that delivers good personal development and solid literacy outcomes, though parents whose children need extra stretch in maths might want to look at the higher-attaining peer schools like Wootton or Gurnard.

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