These are the four best state primary schools in the villages around Petersfield. They are small rural village schools, within five miles of Petersfield. Small, maybe, but they are also among the top 15% of schools in the country, as determined by the Schoolsmith Score;
- East Meon CofE Primary School,
- Langrish Primary School in Stroud,
- Buriton Primary School, and
- Sheet Primary School.
The differences between primary schools are less obvious than prep schools, and deliberately so. State education is designed such that all children should receive the same curriculum irrespective of where they are taught, and who is teaching them. So, to differentiate, parents have traditionally looked to SATS results and Ofsted gradings. Beyond that, there is also a commonly held belief that Church schools are ‘better’ schools. That’s pretty much it. Hopefully, this comparison might shed a little more light.
There is also a partner review for prep schools in Petersfield. And that can be found here (soon).
Age range, gender mix, and faith
All four schools teach children from age 4 (Reception) to 11 (Year 6). None of the schools has a nursery class. But they each have a pre-school or nursery nearby.
There is before and after school care from 7.45/8.00am to 5.00/5.30pm at each school, provided by a mixture of school staff and external contractors.
As far as gender mix goes, they are all co-educational, as indeed are almost all state primary schools.
East Meon CofE Primary is a church school. So RE will feature as a core subject in its curriculum. But, as Voluntary Controlled church schools it is the local authority (Hampshire), not the Church or the school, that controls admissions policies. The other three are community schools, teaching a mandatory RE curriculum.
Admissions
In terms of admissions policy, please refer to the individual schools’ websites. All operate a catchment system. Langrish Primary is regularly oversubscribed for places in Reception.
Inspections
Ofsted inspectors consider all four schools to be Good schools, according to their latest inspections.
Buildings and grounds
As small rural schools they are all based in attractive locations close to farmland and the South Downs. These settings are the obvious draw for parents.
School buildings are purpose-built; Buriton Primary is a refurbished and extended Victorian School. Langrish Primary and Sheet Primary are both sympathetically red-brick facilities. East Meon CofE Primary is based in a 1970s single storey facility.
Class sizes and classes per year
The largest school is single form entry, the others have mixed-age classes.;
- 3 schools with four mixed age classes; Buriton Primary, East Meon CofE Primary, and Sheet Primary,
- 1 school with one class per year group; Langrish Primary.
Average class sizes at the three mixed-age Petersfield primary schools are 25-26 pupils. At Langrish Primary, however, classes average 30 pupils.
Facilities at Petersfield state primary schools
They all have some specialist facilities to support their curricula, and they are similar. For sport facilities include playgrounds, a field, and a school hall. Buriton Primary is the exception here, but it uses the village hall and playing fields for PE.
Beyond the multi-purpose hall or village hall, specialist arts facilities at each school are limited.
Academic facilities at school are library areas, networked computers, an outdoor/environmental area, and a learning support area.
Academic curricula
These Petersfield primary schools teach a broad curriculum in line with the National Curriculum. They teach subjects separately, using cross-curricular linking where appropriate. They are not especially differentiated.
The curriculum at East Meon CofE Primary emphasises Christian social morality. Particularly in lessons such as PSHE, Citizenship and in assemblies. RE, naturally, plays a prominent role in the curriculum as a core subject along with English and maths. And there is usually daily worship.
French is the preferred foreign language at three schools while East Meon CofE Primary teaches Spanish. Sheet Primary starts its foreign language teaching in Year 1, the others from Year 3.
All four schools have educational trips and school visitors. And there is a residential trip for senior pupils, usually an outdoor adventure, in Year 6. Sheet Primary pupils also have a residential in Year 5.
There is outdoor learning at each school, in particular for the youngest pupils. But more so at East Meon CofE Primary and Langrish Primary where all year groups participate in outdoor learning or Forest School, respectively. Environmental education at East Meon CofE Primary has been recognised with the Eco Schools Green Flag accreditation.
Sport at Petersfield state primary schools
Each school encourages participation in physical exercise by teaching between 8 and 10 different sports. For its commitment to sport over several years, Langrish Primary has a School Games Mark Platinum accreditation.
The arts at Petersfield state primary schools
The schools all promote engagement with the arts on an individual and ensemble basis. For example, there is art, a choir, instrument learning, and dramatic performances at each school.
Pupils at these four Petersfield state primary schools also benefit from a handful of lunchtime and after-school activities. There’s sport, of course. But there are also clubs for academic enrichment, hobbies, and arts.
Academic results
Academic results at these Petersfield primary schools can be quite variable. However, results at Langrish Primary and Sheet Primary stand out. On a four-year average, Langrish Primary ranks in the top 6% of UK schools for attainment in Year 6 SATS. Sheet Primary ranks in the top 11%.
As for pupil progress, again measured on four-year average from SATS results, Langrish Primary ranks in the top 16% nationally. Buriton Primary is in the top 26%.
Choosing the best state primary school in Petersfield
The freedom to choose a state school is somewhat limited as applicants need to live within the school’s catchment area. But there may be a choice of more than one. Most Education Authorities offer the opportunity to select preferred schools, albeit from a limited list.
These schools are all among the top 15% best primary schools in the country. As I hope this note has shown, any one of them should be a preference.
| Rank | Best Petersfield primary schools | Schoolsmith Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Langrish Primary School | 71 |
| 2 | Sheet Primary School | 69 |
| 3 | East Meon Church of England Primary School | 68 |
| 4 | Buriton Primary School | 66 |
See also the best state primary schools in Chichester, Fareham & Havant, and Chandler’s Ford
Why are these the best state primary schools in Petersfield?
Schools that feature in these notes are those with the highest Schoolsmith Scores, not just in Petersfield, but nationwide. The Schoolsmith Score is an objective score that accounts for 50 different aspects of schooling, grouped into 5 broad categories. You can read more about them from the links below, and the Schoolsmith Score here.
- their achievements; academic, sporting and artistic,
- the breadth of the education they offer,
- the quality of teaching,
- their facilities,
- their look and feel.
Need more help?
By now you might be wondering what you should be thinking about when choosing a school? It happens to everyone. Why not try my 7 one minute quizzes for those starting their school search? Wood, trees, and all that…