Wallisdean Infant School

About Wallisdean Infant School

Wallisdean Infant School in Fareham is a state primary for children aged 3 to 7, and it is noticeably undersubscribed relative to its physical capacity. With 156 pupils on roll against a capacity of 212, the school has room to grow. That spare space is not due to a lack of local interest: for the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 68 applications for 34 places, making it twice oversubscribed, and 33 of those 68 were first-preference applications. The pupil body is significantly more disadvantaged than the national average, with 24.4 per cent of children eligible for free school meals, a figure that stands out even in a mixed local context. The school is non-religious and co-educational, and it offers nursery provision, meaning families can join from age three. The headteacher is Sandra Cammish, who has been leading a school that clearly draws strong local demand despite not being full to the brim.

Academically, Wallisdean Infant School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025, though the inspection was a graded one that did not assign an overall effectiveness label. The breakdown shows that early years provision remains Outstanding, the same grade it held in the previous inspection in 2014. Quality of education, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes were all judged Good, while leadership and management also came in at Good. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results because its pupils leave at age 7, so there is no direct comparison with the Hampshire local authority average of 61 per cent reaching the expected standard. However, the parent view is instructive: 87 per cent of the 15 respondents would recommend the school, and 100 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy. On behaviour, 80 per cent agreed the school ensures good conduct, though 13 per cent disagreed.

The school’s facilities are generous for an infant setting, including a gymnasium, sports hall, playing fields, ICT suite, art studios, music rooms, and even a chapel. There is a sensory room, which aligns with the SEND provisions on offer for moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. The clubs list is varied — book club, drama, choir, chess, and coding — and 67 per cent of parents strongly agreed their child can take part. Sports include cross country, netball, tennis, dance, athletics, and cricket. For families weighing up options, the nearest Outstanding-rated infant school is Ranvilles Infant School, 1.1 km away. Wallisdean suits parents who want a strong early years foundation, a Good-rated setting with clear demand, and a school that is actively oversubscribed despite having physical capacity to expand.

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