Old Sarum Primary School, Salisbury
Old Sarum Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Salisbury, part of Magna Learning Partnership. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 38th-highest of the 40 schools in Salisbury with published results, and 13,886th of 14,452 across England. It was 69% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wiltshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Old Sarum Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils at Old Sarum Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 46% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 73% in Wiltshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 59% in reading and 53% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Old Sarum Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Old Sarum Primary School as their first choice and 35 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Old Sarum Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Old Sarum Primary School are Greentrees Primary School (0.9 miles, 82% reading, 80% maths); Wyndham Park Infants' School (1.4 miles, Outstanding); Stratford-sub-Castle Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 71% reading, 81% maths); and St Mark's CofE Junior School, Salisbury (1.4 miles, Good, 78% reading, 80% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Old Sarum Primary School.
Greentrees Primary SchoolWyndham Park Infants' SchoolStratford-sub-Castle Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolSt Mark's CofE Junior School, Salisbury
The trust
Old Sarum Primary School is one of 11 schools run by Magna Learning Partnership, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 55% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
70 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Old Sarum Primary School (as of September 2025): 66% would recommend the school, 81% say their child is happy there and 48% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (81%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (48%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 61 pupils (25.2%) received SEN support and 15 (6.2%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Salisbury Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Old Sarum Primary School (s-bound), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Old Sarum Primary School issued 68 suspensions, 24 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Old Sarum Primary School are St Joseph's Catholic School (1.6 miles) and Wyvern St Edmund's Academy (1.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Old Sarum Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Old Sarum Primary School (URN 134788), it was rated Good in May 2014.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school is successfully promoting a love of reading with an impressive new library space, and pupils take pride in their reading experiences. Through the innovative 'Project 50+' initiative, children enjoy a rich range of experiences including learning about democracy, community service, and exploring different cultures. The school prioritises mental health well and helps pupils develop strong values around safety, respect and understanding difference.
Key Strengths
- Strong promotion of reading with pupils enjoying the new library space and reading with teachers
- 'Project 50+' initiative providing rich experiences that help pupils develop talents, interests and understanding of the wider world
- Effective prioritisation of mental health and strong pupil understanding of safety, healthy living, and respect for difference
- Successful work to improve attendance and reduce suspensions through building strong relationships with families
- Ambitious curriculum in most areas with identified key knowledge for pupils to learn
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent implementation of the curriculum with teachers not systematically checking pupils' understanding, resulting in variable achievement
- Too many pupils not reading with age-appropriate fluency and comprehension by the end of Year 6
- Older pupils have gaps in writing knowledge and struggle to write accurately and at length due to insufficient focus in early years and Key Stage 1
- Behaviour policy not applied consistently, with some pupils continuing to disrupt learning
- Early years curriculum lacks strategic oversight and purposeful planning matched to children's individual needs
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective and the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Project 50+ initiative including voting for head students, 'making a difference' weeks, community citizenship activities
Old Sarum Primary School is now more stable following a period of turbulence and has increasingly high expectations of pupils' behaviour and achievements. However, the school requires improvement in the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision.
At a Glance
22.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
70 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 59% to 54% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 53% to 46% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 47% to 56% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.2
Avg class size
20.3
Infant (KS1)
26.8
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 Old Sarum Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Old Sarum Primary School.
- Zoe's Kidz ZoneAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Old Sarum Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Old Sarum Primary School is in Wiltshire; for families living there:
Apply to Wiltshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 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 Old Sarum Primary School
Will you get a place at Old Sarum Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Old Sarum Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Old Sarum Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Old Sarum Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wiltshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Old Sarum Primary School for 2023 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wiltshire 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
69%
Available places
288 pupils
420 places
132 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Salisbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Salisbury
Across Wiltshire council
Places available
6,156
Applications
4,455
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Wiltshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
61
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
31.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
242
Total Pupils
116
Boys
126
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
16.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,104
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,250
Per pupil
£1685k
Total funding
£103k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.3%
Overall absence
16.4%
Persistent absence
269
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
Old Sarum Primary School
Questions parents ask about Old Sarum Primary School
What are SATs results like at Old Sarum Primary School?
Of the pupils at Old Sarum Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 54% reached the expected standard in reading and 46% did so in maths.
What is Old Sarum Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Old Sarum Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Old Sarum Primary School (URN 134788), it was rated Good in May 2014.
What is the catchment area for Old Sarum Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Old Sarum Primary School is oversubscribed, Wiltshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Old Sarum Primary School?
Old Sarum Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 69% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Old Sarum Primary School?
Classes at Old Sarum Primary School average 24.2 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 Old Sarum Primary School?
Old Sarum Primary School has around 242 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Old Sarum Primary School?
5.3% of sessions were missed at Old Sarum Primary School in 2024/25. 16.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Old Sarum Primary School?
Apply through Wiltshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Old Sarum 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 Old Sarum Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Zoe's Kidz Zone (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 Old Sarum Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Wiltshire is 4 (the median across 265 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Old Sarum Primary School?
Old Sarum Primary School is at Pheasant Drive, Old Sarum, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6GH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)