Highfield South Farnham School

Highfield South Farnham School continues to demonstrate outstanding performance since its last inspection in January 2018. The school maintains exceptionally high expectations for students' achievement, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), leading to significant success across the curriculum. Students exhibit a positive attitude towards their education, showcasing confidence and articulation. The nurturing environment and strong community support contribute to the overall effectiveness of the school's educational provision. The leadership from the South Farnham Educational Trust has been crucial in upholding the school's standards and success.

Strengths

• Exceptional behaviour and positive student relationships.
• High-quality teaching and consistent lesson delivery.
• Broad, ambitious curriculum that enhances pupil knowledge.
• Effective identification and support for students with SEND.
• Strong emphasis on reading and phonics instruction.
• Diverse leadership opportunities for students.
• Deep engagement with the local community.

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 Highfield South Farnham School attended 95.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.0% 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, 0.6% of pupils at Highfield South Farnham 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 Highfield South Farnham School had 21.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.2% 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, 15.7% of pupils at Highfield South Farnham School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.1% 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 2024–25 Highfield South Farnham School received £6,399 and spent £5,857 for each of its 487 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £915,000 (£1,878 per pupil).

Across all 11 schools of South Farnham Educational Trust, income was £7,672 and spending £7,384 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Farnham · Surrey local authority: places and applications

Highfield South Farnham School is part of South Farnham Educational Trust, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• South Farnham School Farnham
• Normandy Village School Guildford
• Wood Street Infant School and Nursery Guildford
• Worplesdon Primary School Guildford
• Busbridge Infant School Godalming
• Kings Furlong Infant School and Nursery Basingstoke
• Brighton Hill Community School Basingstoke
• The Blue Coat School Basingstoke Basingstoke
• The Priory Primary School Tadley
• The Raleigh School Leatherhead

What is Highfield South Farnham School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Highfield South Farnham School is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Highfield South Farnham School last inspected by Ofsted?

Highfield South Farnham School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Highfield South Farnham School have?

Highfield South Farnham School has 479 pupils on roll.

What age range does Highfield South Farnham School cover?

Highfield South Farnham School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Highfield South Farnham School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Highfield South Farnham School?

Highfield South Farnham School is at Weydon Lane, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8QH.