Poulner Infant School and Nursery
101%
Capacity
208
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Poulner Infant School and Nursery
Poulner Infant School and Nursery is a state primary in the New Forest, Hampshire, catering for children aged 2 to 7. While the school doesn't publish Key Stage 2 results (its pupils move on before that stage), the local authority average for KS2 attainment in Hampshire is 61. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in October 2024, confirmed that standards are maintained, and it continues to hold a Good rating across all graded areas. This is a solid, consistent performance in a county where 33 out of 425 primary schools are rated Outstanding. The school is noticeably oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 93 applications for 50 places, with 47 first-preference offers made. That ratio of 1.86 applicants per place suggests strong local demand, and 100% of parents who responded to the Parent View survey said they would recommend the school.
Academically, the picture is one of strong parent satisfaction. Ofsted's graded inspection in March 2015 rated leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all as Good. The 2024 ungraded inspection found no decline. Parent View data, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows 97% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well at the school. On behaviour, 96% felt the school ensures pupils are well behaved. The school's support for children with SEND is rated positively by 80% of parents who answered that question, and the school lists provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health, and speech, language and communication needs. With 18.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment.
The school offers a broad range of facilities for such a young age group, including a library, sensory room, forest school, art studios, and a chapel. Sports on offer include gymnastics, swimming, tennis, and athletics, and clubs range from coding and drama to eco club and choir. The nursery provision means children can start from age 2, which is a practical advantage for working families. The school is mixed and non-denominational. Given its oversubscription and strong parent endorsement, this is a school that suits families looking for a well-regarded infant setting with good early years support and a clear focus on personal development, though those wanting a through-school to age 11 will need to plan for a transition at Year 3.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | North Poulner Road, Ringwood, New Forest, BH24 3LA |
| Headteacher | J Conner |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 208 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.9% |
| School Capacity | 208 / 206 (101% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Oct 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (16 Oct 2024): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 30 Mar 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Ofsted Parent View
77 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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed50
93
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
47 families put this school as their 1st choice (51% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British92.8%
- White (other)2.4%
- Mixed2.0%
- Asian1.0%
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 75% 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
2
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 Poulner Infant School and Nursery
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
North Poulner Road, Ringwood
New Forest, BH24 3LA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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