Cove Junior School, Farnborough
Cove Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Farnborough. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 11 schools in Farnborough with published results, and 10,716th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Capacity
- 98% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Cove Junior School in detail
Cove Junior School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis, judo and guitar.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £3.50 per day.
Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils at Cove Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in Hampshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (73% in reading, 68% in maths).
Getting a place at Cove Junior School
Across Hampshire, 93% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Hampshire lodged 254 appeals against primary school offers; 146 reached a hearing and 8 succeeded (5.5% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Cove Junior School are Cove Infant School (0.2 miles, Good); Manor Junior School (0.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 69% maths); Manor Infant School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement); and St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 72% reading, 53% maths).
Cove Junior School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
Cove Infant SchoolManor Junior SchoolManor Infant SchoolSt Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Farnborough (Main) Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Birchett Road (ne-bound), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Cove Junior School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 192 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cove Junior School issued 7 suspensions, 2.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Cove Junior School are Cove School (0.1 miles) and Bohunt Farnborough (1.2 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from September 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
There is an appetite for learning and success at Cove Junior School. Everyone aims high. Pupils know that they are expected to participate and do their best. They strive to meet those expectations. Parents are very positive about the school, which they describe as caring, accommodating and a happy place for their children.
Pupils are an active part of the school community. Their voice counts here. Their opinions are sought and valued. This helps pupils to feel included and safe. Pupils are confident that any worries will be addressed. Staff regularly meet with groups of pupils to talk about learning in different subjects. This helps the school understand what is working well and how knowledge is building for pupils.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has developed an aspirational curriculum to help deliver its ambition for pupils. The curriculum builds knowledge in a well-ordered sequence from Year 3 to Year 6. Careful consideration has been given to the essential knowledge pupils need. This is regularly revisited so that pupils have a secure grasp of important concepts on which to build greater understanding.
In mathematics, the importance of knowing and understanding times tables has been given renewed emphasis. The school responded quickly to a dip in published outcomes for the multiplication check in 2023. Pupils are very keen to 'earn their wings' by demonstrating how well they know all their tables.
From Ofsted's April 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
18.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 73% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 69% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.7
Avg class size
23.7
KS2
12
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Cove Junior School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Cove Junior School.
- CM Sports After School Club980m away · Not yet graded
- SCL at Parsonage Farm980m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cove Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cove Junior School is in Hampshire; for families living there:
Apply to Hampshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 19 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
294 pupils
300 places
6 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Farnborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Farnborough
Across Hampshire council
Places available
15,642
Applications
12,982
Got 1st preference
93.4%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Hampshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
52
SEN Support
16
EHC Plans
23.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
284
Total Pupils
147
Boys
137
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
16.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,798
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,188
Per pupil
£1701k
Total funding
£91k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.4%
Overall absence
7.7%
Persistent absence
310
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Cove Junior School
Questions parents ask about Cove Junior School
What are SATs results like at Cove Junior School?
Of the pupils at Cove Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 69% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is Cove Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Cove Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cove Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Cove Junior School is oversubscribed, Hampshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Cove Junior School?
Cove Junior School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Cove Junior School?
Classes at Cove Junior School average 23.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Cove Junior School?
Cove Junior School has around 284 pupils on roll. 18% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Cove Junior School?
4.4% of sessions were missed at Cove Junior School in 2024/25. 7.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cove Junior School?
Apply through Hampshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Cove Junior School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Cove Junior School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Cove Junior School: CM Sports After School Club (980m away, registered, not yet graded) and SCL at Parsonage Farm (980m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Cove Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 19 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hampshire is 9 (the median across 617 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cove Junior School?
Cove Junior School is at Fernhill Road, Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 9SA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)