Shirley Infant School

About Shirley Infant School

Shirley Infant School is a state primary in Southampton for children aged 4 to 7, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school has a capacity of 270 pupils and currently houses 264, meaning it is running very close to full. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 176 applications for 89 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.98. Of those, 88 were first-preference applications, and 77 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 11.7 per cent, which is notably lower than the national primary average of around 23 per cent, suggesting the school draws from a relatively less deprived catchment. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Cate Gregory. It is a mixed-gender, non-selective infant school with no nursery provision or sixth form.

Academically, Shirley Infant School holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in March 2025. Inspectors judged the quality of education, early years provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all as Good. The previous inspection, back in 2011, also rated overall effectiveness as Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time. Because the school only covers Key Stage 1, there are no KS2 SATs results or Progress 8 scores to report. However, the local authority average for KS2 attainment is 55 per cent, and the school’s feeder junior provision would be expected to perform in line with that benchmark. Parental feedback is strong: 88 per cent of respondents would recommend the school, and large majorities agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for an infant setting, including an ICT suite, sports hall, sensory room, playing fields, art studios, gymnasium, and a forest school. Sports on offer include tennis, athletics, gymnastics, cross country, dance, and football, while clubs include choir, drama, book club, and film club. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health support, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. However, the parent view data on SEND support is notably split: 35 per cent strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, but an equal 35 per cent strongly disagreed, which is worth investigating further if your child has additional needs. This is a school that suits families seeking a well-regarded, oversubscribed infant option in Southampton with strong pastoral feedback and a broad activity offer.

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