Balksbury Infant School, Andover

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades Balksbury Infant School on 7 areas: 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils are very well prepared for the move to junior school when their time comes."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Attendance overall and for key groups is higher than seen nationally."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have successfully drawn on extensive reading and research to design, develop and refine an ambitious curriculum."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children flourish in the early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders are extremely thorough in ensuring that they and staff, have a deep understanding of the reasons some pupils might find learning difficult."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders are, rightly, very proud of the journey the school has been on over recent years."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders' commitment to equipping pupils ‘with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to thrive in modern society' is unmistakable."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should ensure that they sustain and build on the school's highly effective work so as to have a transformational impact on pupils' achievement and wider development, particularly those who face barriers to learning".

For September 2026 entry, 103 families put Balksbury Infant School as their first choice and 218 named it as one of their preferences, for 89 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 20 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Balksbury Infant School are Balksbury Junior School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 76% reading, 77% maths); St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, Andover (under 0.1 miles, Good, 84% reading, 72% maths); Portway Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 86% reading, 76% maths); and Portway Infant School (0.6 miles, Outstanding).

8.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 20 pupils (7.4%) received SEN support and 9 (3.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Andover Rail Station, about 1120 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is John Hanson School (outside), 120 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Balksbury Infant School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 177 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Balksbury Infant School issued 3 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Balksbury Infant School are John Hanson Community School (0.1 miles), Harrow Way Community School (0.9 miles) and Lift Winton (1.7 miles).