Red Barn Community Primary School

About Red Barn Community Primary School

Red Barn Community Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 126 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.2 to one. Of those applicants, 44 put Red Barn as their first preference, and all 30 first-preference offers were taken up. That level of demand suggests strong word-of-mouth, and it’s backed up by the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024, which awarded Outstanding across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school has held an Outstanding rating since at least its previous inspection in 2012, so this isn’t a flash in the pan. With 211 pupils on roll against a capacity of 240, there’s a little breathing room, but competition for places is fierce.

Academically, Red Barn performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 62% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is just above the Hampshire local authority average of 61%. The school’s strongest subject is reading, where 90% met the expected standard and 41% achieved a higher score. Maths followed with 79% at expected and 38% at a higher level, while writing saw 62% at expected and only 10% at the higher threshold. Average scaled scores were 108 in reading and 106 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the 52nd percentile among all primaries, and within Fareham it sits 12th out of 22 schools. It’s worth noting that the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is just 9%, well below the national average, which may partly explain the strong results.

The school offers a good range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a library, playing fields, a gymnasium, sports hall, forest school area, ICT suite and even a chapel. Sports provision covers cross country, football, dance, rounders, cricket and swimming, while clubs extend to drama, gardening, film club, choir, chess and art club. For children with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, and physical disabilities. Red Barn is a state-funded, mixed primary for ages 4 to 11 with no nursery or sixth form. It has no religious character. Given its strong Ofsted record and high local demand, this is a school that suits families who value consistent quality and are prepared to apply early and with conviction.

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