Talbot Primary School

About Talbot Primary School

Talbot Primary School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 175 applications for just 89 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.97. That means nearly two families applied for every spot, and all 80 first-preference applicants were offered a place. While the school doesn't publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high demand is a strong signal of its standing in the community. Headteacher Kate Curtis leads a mixed, non-denominational primary for children aged 4 to 11, with 570 pupils on roll against a capacity of 630. The school also serves a diverse intake, with 24.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and reflects the inclusive nature of the school.

Academically, Talbot performs solidly above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole average of 63%. The school ranks 18th out of 50 primaries in the LA, placing it in the top 36% locally and the top 36% nationally. A closer look at individual subjects shows 84% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 106, while reading and writing expected rates were 80% and 76% respectively. At the higher standard, 13% of pupils achieved greater depth across all three subjects. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, and the ungraded visit confirmed it remains Good. This is a clear improvement from its 2012 Requires Improvement rating.

The school offers a practical, well-resourced environment. Facilities include a library, playing fields, a sensory room, forest school area and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, football, dance, cricket, cross country and athletics, while clubs include book club, science club and drama. Talbot's SEND provision is notably broad, supporting pupils with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. This makes it a strong option for families whose children need additional support within a mainstream setting. The school is not oversubscribed to the point of being inaccessible, but the 1.97 ratio means early application is wise. It suits families looking for a well-regarded, inclusive primary with strong core results and a wide range of enrichment activities.

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