Horndean Infant School hit a strong standard for behaviour, inclusion and wellbeing in its new Ofsted report card. Wootey Junior in Alton met every standard.

Horndean Infant School has been rated at a strong standard in three areas by Ofsted. They are attendance and behaviour, inclusion, and personal development and wellbeing. Inspectors found “behaviour across the school is excellent”.

The school, on Merchistoun Road, was inspected on 29 and 30 September. Its report card was published on 20 October. Horndean is about seven miles south of Petersfield.

It met the expected standard in the other four areas, and its safeguarding standards were met. No area was rated below the expected standard.

The grades

Area Grade
Attendance and behaviour Strong standard
Inclusion Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Achievement Expected standard
Early years Expected standard
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Safeguarding Met

Ofsted’s new report cards grade each area on a five-point scale: exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention and urgent improvement. They replaced the single overall word, such as “good”, that parents used to see.

What inspectors found

On behaviour, the report says older pupils “are exemplary role models and help younger pupils”. It credits the school’s “rise and shine” provision with a “very positive impact” on some pupils’ attendance, punctuality and behaviour over the past year.

On inclusion, inspectors called it “a highly inclusive school”. They found that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities make secure progress. They said funding for disadvantaged pupils “makes a significant difference”.

On achievement, the report says phonics screening results are rising and “typically above the national average”. Leaders are now working on maths.

The one next step Ofsted set is about assessment. Leaders should use it more precisely so that teaching is adapted for every pupil, “including the most able”. Inspectors also noted that in the early years, gaps in children’s learning are sometimes not addressed quickly enough.

The school has 266 pupils, which Ofsted puts close to average. It also runs a nursery for three and four year olds, with 27 places. The headteacher is Ben Frank.

At its last inspection, in July 2022, the school was judged good overall, with outstanding early years. The two frameworks grade differently, so the results do not compare line by line.

Wootey Junior School, Alton

Wootey Junior School on Wooteys Way, Alton, also has its first report card. It was inspected on 22 September and published on 21 October. Alton is about 11 miles north of Petersfield.

It met the expected standard in all six areas graded, and its safeguarding standards were met. Inspectors described it as “a place where every pupil has a voice and feels like they belong”. They found reading, writing and maths results “broadly in line with national averages” and better than those of similar schools.

The school has 157 pupils. Ofsted records 40.13% as eligible for free school meals at some point in the last six years, which it rates above average.

Ofsted set Wootey three next steps:

  • use assessment in lessons to catch gaps and misconceptions sooner
  • keep expectations for handwriting and spelling consistently high
  • keep up the work that is reducing absence

Wootey was judged still good at its previous inspection in May 2022.

What it means for you

  • Choosing a school for September 2027? In England the deadline to apply for a primary or infant school place is 15 January. Read the full report card, not just the grades: each area has a page of plain-English findings.
  • Compare like with like. A strong standard is the second-highest grade on the new scale. Schools inspected before this autumn still show the old one-word judgements.
  • Every report is free on Ofsted’s report finder, searchable by school name or postcode.

For term dates and INSET days across the area, see our Petersfield school term dates page.

Sources