Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School, Basingstoke

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well overall."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils attend school regularly."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years get off to a positive start."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff support pupils to reduce barriers to their learning and wellbeing."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of the school's context and areas for development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a broad personal development programme that meets statutory requirements and is appropriate for their age."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching and recognise where further improvement is needed."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers use checks on pupils' learning to inform their teaching so that misconceptions are addressed promptly and lesson content builds securely on what pupils already know"; "Leaders should embed and strengthen the teaching of transcription skills across key stages 1 and 2 so that pupils develop greater accuracy and fluency in their writing across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that the outdoor provision in early years continues to be developed so that it is as purposeful and impactful as the indoor environment"; "Governors' monitoring should be refined to support them to develop the knowledge and expertise needed to provide consistently rigorous challenge across all aspects of the school's work".

In its own words: "Click the links on your left to find out all about Sherborne St John Primary School!"

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our school community! At Sherborne St. John, every child is valued as a unique individual, inspired to flourish, and supported to achieve their very best. Our culture combines high academic standards with a deep commitment to teaching the whole child."

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 77% and 75% in Hampshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 94% in reading and 65% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 52 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School are St Bede's Catholic Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 96% reading, 94% maths); Merton Junior School (1.1 miles, Good, 57% reading, 56% maths); Merton Infant School and Nursery (1.1 miles, Good); and Oakridge Infant School (1.4 miles, Good).

Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

15.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 12.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (61%), Mixed (14%) and Black (12%).

In 2026, 13 pupils (11.5%) received SEN support and 7 (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 a moderate learning difficulty.

Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Basingstoke Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tyfield (se-bound), 160 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 46 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72).

In 2024/25, Sherborne St John Church of England Primary School issued 14 suspensions, 12.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.