Moorlands Primary School, Southampton
Moorlands Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Southampton, part of Reach Cooperative Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 74th-highest of the 79 schools in Southampton with published results, and 13,711th of 14,452 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Southampton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Moorlands Primary School in detail
Moorlands Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £5.00 per session.
Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Moorlands Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 47% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 71% and 70% in Southampton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 72% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Moorlands Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 48 families put Moorlands Primary School as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 53 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Moorlands Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Moorlands Primary School are Townhill Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); Harefield Primary School (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 72% reading, 72% maths); Townhill Junior School (0.4 miles, Good, 60% reading, 59% maths); and Glenfield Infant School (0.7 miles, Good).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Moorlands Primary School.
Townhill Infant SchoolHarefield Primary SchoolTownhill Junior SchoolGlenfield Infant School
The trust
Moorlands Primary School is one of 7 schools run by Reach Cooperative Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
98 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Moorlands Primary School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (70%).
Who goes there
42% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 61 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 12 (3.1%) 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 autism.
Moorlands Primary School has a resourced provision (4 places, 3 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (4 places, 5 pupils on roll) for autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bitterne Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Townhill Way (nw-bound), 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Moorlands Primary School issued 18 suspensions, 4.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Moorlands Primary School are Woodlands Community College (0.8 miles) and Bitterne Park School (0.8 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from February 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Moorlands is a welcoming, inclusive school where your child will feel safe and cared for. The school excels at teaching reading through a systematic phonics programme and provides a broad, ambitious curriculum. Your child will benefit from enriching experiences like trips, community involvement, and outdoor learning that bring learning to life.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive approach with excellent support for pupils with SEND - curriculum is adapted thoughtfully so all pupils can access learning alongside their peers
- Excellent reading programme - children start phonics in Reception, staff are well-trained, and most pupils read fluently and confidently
- Personal development is a strength - school provides a range of visits including residential trips, charity events, and community links to broaden pupils' experiences
- Positive behaviour throughout school - pupils understand and uphold core values of 'ready, respectful and safe'
- Strong leadership aligned to school vision - leaders are reflective and support staff wellbeing
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent checking of pupils' understanding across subjects - in some areas pupils develop gaps in knowledge or misconceptions that go unaddressed
- Some subjects need better strategies to help pupils remember what they've been taught over time
- Persistent absence remains high for some pupils - school needs to raise expectations for regular attendance and evaluate the impact of actions taken
- Safeguarding policy and recording processes need refinement to ensure all statutory requirements are consistently met
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, but the school's safeguarding policy did not initially reflect current statutory requirements and record-keeping of actions needed improvement - both issues were addressed during inspection.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, educational visits including residential trips, outdoor learning, pupil leadership roles, charity events, visitors from police and fire service
Moorlands Primary School is an inclusive, happy and caring place where pupils feel safe and achieve well. The school has developed an ambitious curriculum with effective teaching, though there is scope to strengthen assessment practices in some subjects.
At a Glance
42.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision and SEN unit: Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
98 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 72% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 68% to 47% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 68% to 58% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.7
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
10
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Moorlands Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Moorlands Primary School.
- 360 Degree Sports Coaching - Glenfield1000m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Moorlands Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Moorlands Primary School is in Southampton; for families living there:
Apply to Southampton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 26
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Southampton is 33 (the median across 87 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
Your chances of a place at Moorlands Primary School
Will you get a place at Moorlands Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Moorlands Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Moorlands Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Moorlands Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Southampton, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Moorlands Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Southampton got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
384 pupils
420 places
36 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Southampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Southampton
Across Southampton council
Places available
2,745
Applications
2,122
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Southampton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
61
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
18.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Moorlands Primary School has a resourced provision (4 places, 3 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (4 places, 5 pupils on roll) for autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
393
Total Pupils
180
Boys
213
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
17.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,814
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,687
Per pupil
£2539k
Total funding
£241k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.7%
Overall absence
19.2%
Persistent absence
359
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
Moorlands Primary School
Questions parents ask about Moorlands Primary School
What are SATs results like at Moorlands Primary School?
Of the pupils at Moorlands Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 60% reached the expected standard in reading and 47% did so in maths.
What is Moorlands Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Moorlands Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Moorlands Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Moorlands Primary School is oversubscribed, Southampton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Moorlands Primary School?
Moorlands Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Moorlands Primary School?
Classes at Moorlands Primary School average 27.7 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Moorlands Primary School?
Moorlands Primary School has around 393 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Moorlands Primary School have specialist SEN provision?
Moorlands Primary School has a resourced provision (4 places, 3 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (4 places, 5 pupils on roll) for autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Moorlands Primary School?
6.7% of sessions were missed at Moorlands Primary School in 2024/25. 19.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Moorlands Primary School?
Apply through Southampton's coordinated admissions process, naming Moorlands Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Moorlands Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Moorlands Primary School: 360 Degree Sports Coaching - Glenfield (1000m 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 Moorlands Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 23 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Southampton is 33 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Moorlands Primary School?
Moorlands Primary School is at Kesteven Way, Bitterne, Southampton, Hampshire, SO18 5RJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)