Tanners Brook Primary School

About Tanners Brook Primary School

Tanners Brook Primary School’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit comfortably above the Southampton local authority average, with 63% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared with the LA average of 55%. That eight-point gap places the school 15th out of 42 primary schools in the city, putting it in the top half of Southampton’s state primaries. The school’s maths scores are particularly strong: an average scaled score of 105 and 76% of pupils hitting the expected standard, while 24% reached the higher standard. Reading and writing are solid too, with 72% and 82% meeting expectations respectively. The school’s national ranking sits around the midpoint, at the 50th percentile, which is a respectable showing for a non-selective state primary. These figures suggest a school that is delivering above-average outcomes for its pupils, especially given that a third of its 394 pupils are eligible for free school meals, a higher-than-average proportion that often correlates with lower results elsewhere.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025 was a short inspection that did not judge overall effectiveness, but the graded inspection from September 2018 rated it Good across the board. The 2025 visit gave behaviour and attitudes the highest possible mark of Outstanding, while quality of education, early years provision, personal development, and leadership and management were all judged Good. Parent feedback is largely positive: 89% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy (89%), feels safe (90%), and does well (84%). The school’s SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. However, the Parent View data shows some mixed feelings on SEND support specifically, with 30% agreeing and 20% disagreeing that the school gives SEND children the support they need, and 20% saying they don’t know.

Tanners Brook is a community primary school with no religious character, serving children aged 4 to 11. It has capacity for 510 pupils but currently enrols 394, so there is some room for growth. The school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 78 applications for 50 places and 45 first-preference offers made. Facilities include a gymnasium, forest school, dining hall, sensory room, and a chapel, and the school offers a decent range of clubs and sports: gardening, choir, chess, drama, coding, netball, tennis, dance, gymnastics, and cross country. For families looking for a solid, well-regarded state primary in Southampton that performs above the LA average and has a strong focus on behaviour, Tanners Brook is a sensible choice. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Holy Family Catholic Primary, about 2 km away, which may be worth considering if faith-based education is a priority, but Tanners Brook’s combination of good outcomes, strong behaviour ratings, and broad SEND support makes it a strong contender for most local families.

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