Merton Infant School and Nursery, Basingstoke

From the headteacher's welcome: "We look forward to working in partnership with you. Together we will ensure that your child has a happy, safe and successful experience at school and achieves in a way that is personal and fulfilling. We have high expectations and we will endeavour to develop the unique talents of all our children."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, yoga and choir.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £4.00 per day.

For September 2026 entry, 36 families put Merton Infant School and Nursery as their first choice and 119 named it as one of their preferences, for 46 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 Merton Infant School and Nursery are Merton Junior School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 57% reading, 56% maths); St Bede's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 96% reading, 94% maths); Oakridge Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); and Oakridge Junior School (0.4 miles, Good, 86% reading, 94% maths).

20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Merton Infant School and Nursery (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).

16.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 38% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (55%), Asian (16%) and Black (9%).

Merton Infant School and Nursery had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Basingstoke Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Abbey Road, 200 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 280 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, Merton Infant School and Nursery issued 2 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Merton Infant School and Nursery are Everest Community Academy (0.3 miles), The Vyne Community School (0.5 miles) and The Costello School (1.5 miles).