Banister Primary School, Southampton

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Banister Primary School - "Pupils thrive in this caring and nurturing school... " - Ofsted April 2024. We are delighted to welcome you and your child to Banister Primary School and our fantastic modern building! We are a "learning centred school" with learning at the heart of everything we do."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, dance and art.

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £2.50 per day.

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Banister Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 71% and 70% in Southampton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 87% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 37 families put Banister Primary School as their first choice and 133 named it as one of their preferences, for 55 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Banister Primary School are Springhill Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 97% reading, 97% maths); Bevois Town Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 64% reading, 78% maths); Mount Pleasant Juniors (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 62% reading, 61% maths); and Mount Pleasant Infants (0.7 miles, Requires improvement).

Banister Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Banister Primary School is one of 3 schools run by Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust, an academy trust.

34.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 58.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (38%), White British (21%) and Black (9%).

In 2026, 113 pupils (27.1%) received SEN support and 18 (4.3%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Southampton Central Rail Station, about 1040 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Annes Gate (adjacent), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 1229 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Southampton (352), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Banister Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Banister Primary School are St Anne's Catholic School (0.2 miles), St Mark's Church of England School (0.6 miles) and Upper Shirley High School (1.1 miles).