Cove Infant School

Cove Infant School has made significant strides since its previous inspection, moving from Requires Improvement to a Good rating across all areas of effectiveness. The school provides a nurturing and inclusive environment where pupils are encouraged to be active learners. Relationships among pupils and staff are strong, fostering a sense of community and trust. The curriculum is ambitious and tailored to build pupils' knowledge and skills systematically from the early years through to Year 2, ensuring all pupils, including those with SEND, are supported effectively in their learning journeys. While there are numerous strengths in the school's educational approach, there are also areas that require attention. Some subjects lack clarity in the essential knowledge that students need before advancing, which occasionally hinders teachers' ability to assess pupil understanding accurately. Additionally, there have been instances where teaching methods could be more effective, suggesting a need for ongoing development in teachers' pedagogical practices. Overall, Cove Infant School is on a positive trajectory, aiming to refine its already commendable educational practices.

Strengths

• Strong relationships and a nurturing environment for pupils
• Ambitious and bespoke curriculum that promotes effective learning
• High levels of pupil engagement and enthusiasm for learning
• Effective support for pupils' mental health and well-being
• Positive culture of reading with a well-structured phonics program
• Strong staff collaboration and commitment to continuous improvement

Areas for Improvement

• Lack of clarity in essential knowledge required for some subjects
• Occasional ineffective teaching strategies that hinder pupil understanding

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 Cove Infant School attended 94.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 14.9% 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, 3.0% of pupils at Cove 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 Cove Infant School had 19.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.9% 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, 13.4% of pupils at Cove Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.3% 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 Cove Infant School received £6,849 and spent £6,497 for each of its 172 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £66,000 (£386 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 Farnborough · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is Cove Infant School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cove Infant School is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.

When was Cove Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cove Infant School was last inspected in March 2024.

How many pupils does Cove Infant School have?

Cove Infant School has 172 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cove Infant School cover?

Cove Infant School for pupils aged 4 to 7.

Where is Cove Infant School?

Cove Infant School is at 92 Fernhill Road, Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 9DP.