Freegrounds Infant School

Freegrounds Infant School continues to perform well, maintaining its status as a good school. It is characterized by a warm and vibrant atmosphere where pupils feel safe and valued. The school places a strong emphasis on reading, and recent improvements to the phonics program have contributed positively to pupils' literacy skills. The curriculum is well-structured, promoting both academic and personal development, with leaders keenly aware of their responsibilities in fostering an inclusive environment for all students. The strong performance of the school is supported by an engaged staff and proactive governors who prioritize staff well-being and student welfare.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and happy at school
• High expectations for both behavior and achievement
• Strong commitment to reading and literacy development
• Effective personal development program for pupils
• Positive relationships between staff and pupils
• Strong support for pupils with SEND and EAL
• High parental satisfaction with the school's support

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff require additional training in phonics delivery
• Curriculum clarity is lacking in a few subjects regarding specific knowledge and vocabulary

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 Freegrounds Infant School attended 95.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.2% 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, 2.4% of pupils at Freegrounds 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 Freegrounds Infant School had 23.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.5% 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, 8.4% of pupils at Freegrounds Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.1% 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 Freegrounds Infant School received £5,896 and spent £6,216 for each of its 225 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £25,000 (£111 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

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What is Freegrounds Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Freegrounds Infant School is Good, from an inspection in April 2023.

When was Freegrounds Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Freegrounds Infant School was last inspected in April 2023.

How many pupils does Freegrounds Infant School have?

Freegrounds Infant School has 225 pupils on roll.

What age range does Freegrounds Infant School cover?

Freegrounds Infant School for pupils aged 5 to 7.

Where is Freegrounds Infant School?

Freegrounds Infant School is at Hobb Lane, Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 0GG.