Bitterne Church of England Primary School
Southampton, SO19 7BX · Southampton · primary school
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38th of 45 primary schools in Southampton we can score, 55 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.6/10 against 2,494 of them, against 1.8/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 47.0 · 15 | 62% | 0.92 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 2.0 · 24 | 38% | 0.92 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Bitterne Church of England Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 47.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 2.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (1.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in a Christmas Show and a Year 6 end-of-year production. Trips include PGL Marchants Hill, Stubbington Study Centre, Hilliers Garden Centre, Butser Farm, Winchester Science Museum, Southampton Art Gallery, Winchester Cathedral Leavers Service, and Paultons Park.
Getting in
The published school roll is 395 pupils against a stated capacity of 417. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific support is available for children who do not reach the higher standard?
What Ofsted said about Bitterne Church of England Primary School
Overview
Bitterne Church of England Primary School is described as a calm environment where pupils are ‘happy and kind to each other’ and ‘love, trust and forgiveness’ underpin school life. However, the report states that ‘some pupils do not achieve well’ due to ‘gaps in their learning’, particularly in English and mathematics, resulting in outcomes ‘significantly below the national average’. New leadership is working to reverse this decline, but improvements are ‘not yet realised’ in pupils’ academic readiness.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate ‘good’ behaviour, playing well together and listening carefully in class.
- Personal development is ‘good’, with pupils learning to be ‘responsible, respectful and safe’ and building confidence.
- Attendance has improved, with ‘fewer pupils persistently absent’ due to strong prioritisation by staff.
- Effective systems exist to identify the specific needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Pupils are ‘enthusiastic about school life’, enjoying educational visits and community involvement.
Areas to improve
- Staff require further training to effectively teach the new phonics programme, as some are ‘not knowledgeable enough’ about early reading and writing.
- Early years provision needs improvement, as adults do not consistently support children to build knowledge or design activities for practising learning.
- Teaching quality is ‘variable’, with some staff failing to check learning effectively or provide ambitious tasks, hindering pupil achievement.
- Quality assurance checks are not consistently providing the information needed to drive improvements in outcomes for all pupils.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 50% |
| 2023/24 | 27% |
| 2024/25 | 47% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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