Wordsworth Primary and Nursery School

About Wordsworth Primary and Nursery School

Wordsworth Primary and Nursery School in Southampton has a mixed picture when it comes to parent experience. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 62% of the 147 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That leaves a notable 38% who would not. The school is oversubscribed for Reception places in the 2025/26 academic year, with 118 applications for 60 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.97. However, only 56 of those applications were first-preference choices, meaning the school made offers to all of its first-preference applicants. On specific questions, 81% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 71% said their child feels safe. But behaviour is a more divisive issue: 56% agreed the school ensures good behaviour, while 41% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Similarly, only 31% of parents felt that concerns are dealt with properly, and just 31% agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, with 61% disagreeing.

Academically, Wordsworth is a Good school according to its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in March 2023. All inspected areas — quality of education, early years provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management — were rated Good. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 49% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Southampton local authority average of 55%. The school ranks 30th out of 42 primary schools in the local authority on this measure, placing it in the bottom half. In reading, 62% met the expected standard and 18% reached the higher standard; in maths, 70% met the expected standard and 15% reached the higher standard. Average scores were 102 in reading and 103 in maths. No pupils achieved the higher standard in writing.

Wordsworth is a large primary with 654 pupils against a capacity of 630, and it includes a nursery for children aged two and over. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, library, music rooms, art studios, ICT suite, playing fields and a forest school. Clubs include chess, choir, film club, art club, coding and science club, while sports on offer are rounders, netball, cross country and dance. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 37.6%, well above the national average. Its SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health support. Given the mixed parent feedback and below-average KS2 outcomes, this school may suit families who value its improved Ofsted rating and wide facilities, but those with children with SEND or concerns about behaviour may want to investigate further.

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