Marnel Community Infant School

Marnel Community Infant School is an outstanding institution where pupils from all backgrounds excel academically and personally. The staff display a commendable ambition for student learning, crafting engaging lessons that kindle a love for learning among the students. The exceptional leadership has fostered an environment that promotes not only academic achievement but also exemplary behavior, with pupils learning to respect and support one another. The school's strong emphasis on character development is evident in the numerous growth opportunities available, and parents express their pride in being part of this vibrant school community. The inspection highlights that the curriculum is rigorous, ensuring that all students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), are effectively supported. The commitment to inclusivity is notable, with strategic adaptations made to support learners at risk of falling behind. Early years education is particularly strong, with children quickly developing foundational skills in reading. Overall, Marnel Community Infant School stands out for its unwavering focus on excellence and the holistic development of its students.

Strengths

• Exceptional quality of education across all areas.
• Teachers are highly knowledgeable and deliver captivating lessons.
• Outstanding behavior and attitudes displayed by pupils.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND, enabling strong progress.
• Strong leadership fosters a culture of ambition and community involvement.
• Vibrant early years provision that prepares children well for future stages of education.

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 Marnel Community Infant School attended 97.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.8% 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 Marnel Community 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 Marnel Community Infant School had 19.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.7% 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, 4.2% of pupils at Marnel Community Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 11.5% 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 Marnel Community Infant School received £7,428 and spent £7,378 for each of its 356 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £97,000 (£274 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 Basingstoke · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is Marnel Community Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Marnel Community Infant School is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was Marnel Community Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Marnel Community Infant School was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does Marnel Community Infant School have?

Marnel Community Infant School has 356 pupils on roll.

What age range does Marnel Community Infant School cover?

Marnel Community Infant School for pupils aged 4 to 7.

Where is Marnel Community Infant School?

Marnel Community Infant School is at Shetland Road, Popley Way, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9PT.