Farnborough Road Infant School

Farnborough Road Infant School continues to perform well, retaining its status as a good school since its last inspection in 2017. The school cultivates a positive and supportive atmosphere, where pupils feel safe, valued, and socially connected. Academic achievement is a priority, with high expectations set for all students, including those with special educational needs. The curriculum is well-structured and designed to meet the varied needs of the students, promoting a love for learning, particularly in reading. However, there are inconsistencies in the early reading program that need addressing, as some pupils are not achieving their full potential in reading skills.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well across the curriculum.
• Strong emphasis on personal development and well-being.
• Clear expectations for behavior and conduct are upheld.
• A positive and supportive school environment fosters relationships.
• Effective leadership supports staff in delivering a high-quality curriculum.

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff in early years use questions ineffectively, limiting language development.
• Inconsistencies in the early reading curriculum hinder some pupils' reading progress.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Farnborough Road Infant School attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Farnborough Road Infant School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Farnborough Road Infant School had 24.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 15.0% of pupils at Farnborough Road Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Farnborough Road Infant School received £6,876 and spent £7,016 for each of its 402 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £176,000 (£437 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Southport · Sefton local authority: places and applications

What is Farnborough Road Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Farnborough Road Infant School is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was Farnborough Road Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Farnborough Road Infant School was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does Farnborough Road Infant School have?

Farnborough Road Infant School has 428 pupils on roll.

What age range does Farnborough Road Infant School cover?

Farnborough Road Infant School for pupils aged 2 to 7.

Where is Farnborough Road Infant School?

Farnborough Road Infant School is at Farnborough Road, Birkdale, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 3DF.