Southwood Infant School
84%
Capacity
114
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Southwood Infant School
Southwood Infant School, a state primary in Hampshire for children aged 4 to 7, stands out for its strong personal development provision rather than headline academic metrics, for which there is no published Key Stage 2 data given its infant-only age range. This makes direct comparison against the local authority average of 61 for KS2 scores impossible, but the school’s Ofsted report from 2023 offers a clearer picture. While the overall effectiveness is Good, the personal development category was rated Outstanding, a distinction held by only 33 of the 425 primary schools in the county. This suggests a particular strength in how the school supports children’s character, resilience and wider wellbeing, which is especially relevant for families prioritising early years pastoral care.
Academically, the school’s most recent graded inspection in April 2023 rated both the quality of education and early years provision as Good, consistent with its previous Good rating from 2016. The leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, and early years provision all scored 2 on the Ofsted scale, meaning Good. The standout is personal development, which scored 1, or Outstanding. With only 5.3 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively affluent intake, and its small size of 114 pupils against a capacity of 135 means class sizes are likely to be manageable. The absence of published SATs results is typical for an infant school, so parents should look to the Ofsted breakdown for assurance on teaching quality.
The school is clearly popular: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 102 applications for 44 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.32 applicants per place. Only 29 first-preference offers were made, so securing a spot is competitive. Facilities include an ICT suite, art studios, a sensory room and a chapel, while sports offered are athletics, dance, gymnastics and cross country. Clubs range from choir and drama to coding and chess. The school also supports children with social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, physical disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. For families in Rushmoor seeking a small, community-focused infant school with strong pastoral care and a Good Ofsted rating, Southwood is a strong contender, though early registration is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Southwood Lane, Farnborough, Rushmoor, GU14 0NE |
| Headteacher | Zoe Wisken |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 114 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 5.3% |
| School Capacity | 114 / 135 (84% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed44
102
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
29 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.8%
- White (other)11.4%
- Mixed7.1%
- Asian6.2%
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 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% 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.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
7
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 Southwood Infant School
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
Southwood Lane, Farnborough
Rushmoor, GU14 0NE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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