William Gilpin Church of England Primary School
66%
Capacity
78
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About William Gilpin Church of England Primary School
William Gilpin Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in the New Forest, currently teaching 78 pupils against a capacity of 119, so there is room to grow. Its intake reflects a relatively low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 10.3%, which is below the national average for primary schools. Demand is clear: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 19 applications for just 10 places, with all 10 first-preference applicants offered a spot, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.9. That suggests a popular local choice, particularly among families who value the Church of England character. The school is mixed-gender and covers Reception through Year 6, with no nursery or sixth form provision. Dan Genn is the headteacher.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, which rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 48% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Hampshire local authority average of 61%. However, individual subject results were stronger: 70% met the expected standard in reading, 83% in writing, and 61% in maths. Higher-attaining pupils were less common, with 13% reaching the higher standard in reading, 9% in maths, and just 4% in writing. The school’s ranking in the New Forest places it 31st out of 35 primary schools on this combined measure, and in the bottom 50% nationally.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, ICT suite, music rooms, outdoor playground, gymnasium, playing fields and a chapel. Sports on offer include netball, athletics, cross country, tennis, rounders and swimming, while clubs extend to drama, chess, choir and eco club. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication support. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Lymington Church of England Infant School, 2.5 km away. William Gilpin suits families who want a small, Church of England primary with a strong community feel, manageable class sizes, and a clear improvement trajectory from its previous inspection, even if its academic outcomes sit below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Pilley Hill, Lymington, New Forest, SO41 5QG |
| Headteacher | Dan Genn |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 78 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.3% |
| School Capacity | 78 / 119 (66% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Jan 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Jan 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 11 Mar 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (48%)
11100th of 13,686
Nationally
1668th of 2,034
In South East
31st of 35
In New Forest
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
48%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
76%
'23/24
48%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed10
19
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
10 families put this school as their 1st choice (53% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.2%
- White (other)6.4%
- Mixed1.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About William Gilpin Church of England Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Pilley Hill, Lymington
New Forest, SO41 5QG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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