Steep Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

About Steep Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

If you are looking at Steep Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, the first thing you will notice is how strongly parents feel about it. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, a striking 93% of the 59 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That level of endorsement is hard to ignore. The school is also clearly popular in practical terms: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 46 applications for just 15 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.07. Of those 46 applicants, 20 put it as their first preference, and all 15 offers went to first-preference families. So if you are considering this school, getting your application in early and as a top choice is essential. The school is a small, Church of England primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, with 101 pupils on roll against a capacity of 105, meaning it is running very close to full.

Academically, Steep Primary performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 88% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Hampshire local authority average of 61%. That is a significant gap. The school also excels at stretching its pupils: 25% achieved the higher standard in all three subjects, and in reading specifically, 63% reached the higher standard. Average scaled scores were 111 in reading and 109 in maths, both comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. The school ranks first out of 31 primary schools in the East Hampshire local authority area, and sits in the top 5% nationally. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024 judged the school as Good overall, with Outstanding ratings for early years provision and for behaviour and attitudes. The previous inspection in 2011 also rated it Good, so the school has a consistent track record.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, music rooms, sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming, netball and dance, while clubs range from chess and gardening to choir, film club and drama. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. However, the Parent View data on SEND support is worth noting: of the 36% of respondents who said their child has SEND, 43% strongly agreed that the school gives the support needed, but 24% strongly disagreed. That is a split worth exploring directly with the school. With its high academic outcomes and strong parent satisfaction, Steep Primary is a good fit for families who value a small, community-focused Church of England school and are prepared to navigate a competitive admissions process.

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