St Helens Primary School

About St Helens Primary School

Parents considering St Helens Primary School will find a school that is clearly popular with local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 26 applications for just 9 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.89 applicants per place. Of those 26 applications, 8 were first-preference choices, and all 8 of those families received an offer. This level of demand suggests a strong reputation among Isle of Wight parents, though the school does not publish a formal parent satisfaction survey percentage. The school is led by headteacher Carl Wake and currently has 93 pupils on roll, operating just under its capacity of 105. It is a state-funded, mixed primary school for children aged 5 to 11, with no nursery provision or sixth form, and it does not have a religious character.

Academically, St Helens performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Isle of Wight average of 52%. This places the school 8th out of 35 primary schools in the local authority, putting it in the top quarter. Individual subject scores are strong: 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, with an average scaled score of 107, and 79% did so in maths, with an average score of 104. At the higher standard, 36% of pupils achieved in reading and 21% in maths, though only 7% reached that level in writing. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with an Outstanding grade for personal development. The previous inspection in 2014 also rated it Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard.

The school offers a range of facilities including an outdoor playground, sensory room, gymnasium, ICT suite and a chapel. Sports provision covers gymnastics, rounders, tennis and athletics, while extracurricular options include art club, choir and drama. For families with children who have additional needs, St Helens lists support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school’s oversubscription means that families living outside the immediate catchment area should check the admissions criteria carefully. Given its strong academic results relative to the local authority, its Good Ofsted rating with an Outstanding personal development grade, and its clear popularity, St Helens is likely to suit families who prioritise a well-regarded local primary with a broad range of activities and a supportive approach to SEND.

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