St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, Andover Review 2026: Small Catholic primary with top quartile results

The outcomes in the latest published primary data are strong.

• Expected standard (reading, writing, mathematics combined, 2024): 85.33%, compared with an England average of 62%.

• Higher standard (reading, writing, mathematics, 2024): 33.33%, compared with an England average of 8%.

• Scaled scores: reading 109, mathematics 106, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 108.

Rankings add useful context for parents comparing local options. Ranked 2,284th in England and 4th in the Andover area for primary outcomes (FindMySchool proprietary ranking based on official data), performance sits above England average and within the top 25% of schools in England.

These results suggest a school where core literacy and numeracy are systematically prioritised, and where pupils are prepared effectively for end-of-primary assessment demands without narrowing the curriculum to test practice alone.

Curriculum intent is described as structured, with explicit revisiting of prior knowledge to help pupils connect new learning to what they have already mastered. This matters in a one-form-entry context because consistency across classes is more straightforward to engineer, and pupils benefit when expectations do not shift unpredictably from year to year.

Reading is presented as a major strength in external reporting. Pupils are described as developing reading for pleasure, with staff teaching reading with energy and a clear focus on building phonic knowledge. That aligns with the school’s strong reading scaled score.

There is also a clear improvement edge. The 2023 inspection narrative highlights that, while reading and phonics are prioritised, consistent staff training and precision in phonics delivery were areas for leaders to tighten so that progress in early reading is as rapid as it could be for every pupil. For parents of Reception and Key Stage 1 pupils, this is the kind of detail worth asking about during a visit: what training has taken place since, how reading books are matched to taught sounds, and how quickly pupils who fall behind are supported.

As a Catholic primary, transition choices often involve both geography and faith commitment. Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School identifies this school as one of its linked primary partners, which is useful context for Catholic families planning a through-path in the wider area.

Other families will prioritise proximity and travel time for Year 7. A practical approach is to shortlist likely Andover-area secondaries early, then confirm the current admissions criteria for those schools and the travel logistics from home, particularly if wraparound care is part of the plan.

Demand exceeds supply for Reception entry. In the most recent admissions data available here, there were 45 applications for 27 offers, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. That is roughly 1.67 applications per place, which is competitive for a small primary.

This is a Catholic voluntary aided school and is its own admissions authority for the faith categorisation element. For Reception entry, parents complete the Hampshire County Council Common Application Form, and families seeking consideration under a faith criterion are also asked to submit a Supplementary Information Form to the school.

For children starting Reception in September 2026, the school publishes two matching deadlines:

• Common Application Form deadline: midnight on Monday 15 January 2026

• Supplementary Information Form deadline: 5pm on Monday 15 January 2026

As of 27 January 2026, those deadlines have passed. For future intakes, the pattern indicates that mid-January is the key moment each year, and families should check the latest published dates before relying on a remembered timetable.

Open events are also shown on the admissions page, including multiple open mornings listed in November and December, with the school asking families to contact the office in advance to attend. If you are looking ahead to the next cycle, that strongly suggests open events typically run in late autumn.

A useful planning step is to use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check your home-to-school distance and compare nearby alternatives, even when the admissions rules are not purely distance-based.

Safeguarding is described as effective, and the report narrative points to a strong safeguarding culture, consistent staff awareness of signs of risk, and appropriate use of external agencies when needed.

Support for pupils’ emotional development is also visible in the school’s published offer. The school explains its use of Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs), trained and supervised through Hampshire Educational Psychologists, with a remit focused on removing barriers to learning and helping pupils feel settled in school. For many families, that is the difference between a school that reacts to problems and one that actively builds emotional skills early.

Clubs are presented with real specificity, which is helpful for parents trying to picture weekly life rather than generic “enrichment”. For Spring Term 2026, the school lists a rotating set including Football Club, Integr8dance, Kids with Bricks, Rugby Rangers, Netball Club, and Judo Club. The implication is that extracurricular sport and movement are accessible across multiple year groups, not reserved for older pupils.

Playtimes also have a structured social element. The Playground Friends programme frames pupil leadership around inclusion and practical games, with named playground activities shared for families as well.

Trips and visits are used to make learning memorable. External evidence references residential experiences including Little Canada and Ufton Court, alongside broader enrichment through assemblies and celebration of achievements.

The school day runs from doors opening at 9.00am to home time at 3.35pm, with clubs typically finishing at 4.30pm and final collection from the after-school club at 5.45pm.

Wraparound care is clearly defined. Larks’ Breakfast Club runs 7.45am to 9.00am, and the published pricing for regular pre-booked attendance is £5.00 per session (2024 to 2025). Owls’ After School Club runs 3.30pm to 5.30pm (final collection 5.45pm), with a published cost of £8.00 per session (2025 to 2026).

On transport and parking, the school explicitly encourages parking away from Floral Way and walking the final stretch as a “Walk and Talk” routine, partly to reduce congestion and partly to support pupil readiness for learning.

• Competition for Reception places. With 45 applications for 27 offers in the latest admissions snapshot, oversubscription is a real constraint. Families should plan a realistic shortlist that includes at least one less-pressured option.

• Faith expectations are visible in daily routines. Prayer is embedded through the day. That will feel natural for some families and less comfortable for others, so it is worth being honest about fit.

• Early reading consistency is a key question to ask. External evidence praises reading culture and phonics focus, but also highlights the need for more consistent phonics expertise across staff. Ask what has changed since the 2023 inspection, especially if your child is entering Reception or Year 1.

• Wraparound care is structured, but policies matter. Breakfast and after-school provision is established, with clear session times and pricing, and with expectations around booking and collection. Make sure the terms align with your working pattern.

This is a small Catholic primary with strong published outcomes and a clear, prayer-shaped daily rhythm. Results suggest pupils leave Year 6 well prepared in core areas, and the wider offer is unusually concrete for a school of this size, with named clubs, structured pupil roles, and established wraparound care.

It best suits families who want a faith-infused primary experience, value routines and clear expectations, and are prepared to engage early with admissions. Entry remains the limiting factor, because demand is higher than the number of places.