Stoneham Park Primary Academy Review 2026: New-build community school with strong behaviour culture

Because Stoneham Park is a newer, growing primary and has stated it does not yet have a Year 6 cohort, families should expect limited published key stage 2 outcome information at this stage. The right way to judge academic direction here is therefore a combination of curriculum clarity, teaching approach, and external evaluation, rather than headline SATs figures.

In that context, two signals matter most:

1. The Ofsted profile: Good overall, with Outstanding for Behaviour and attitudes, suggests classrooms where learning time is protected and routines are consistent, which is often the foundation for strong academic progress as cohorts mature.

2. The capacity and growth model: a planned 315 places and phased year-by-year growth can be beneficial educationally if staffing and systems scale smoothly, but it can also mean that clubs, enrichment, and specialist provision evolve noticeably year to year.

If you are comparing local primaries primarily on published key stage 2 results, Stoneham Park may feel like a “watch this space” option until a Year 6 cohort moves through and outcomes are published in the usual way.

Stoneham Park describes a theme-based approach while following the statutory National Curriculum by key stage. The emphasis is on planning that removes barriers to learning, with teachers explicitly considering pupil needs in lesson design.

The headteacher also describes a curriculum designed to take advantage of the school’s learning spaces and to build skills for later life. The practical implication for parents is usually a curriculum with cross-curricular links (useful for engagement in younger pupils) while still needing strong subject sequencing in phonics, early reading, writing, and mathematics.

SEND support is also clearly described at policy level. The school sets out a graduated approach, with an identified SENCO role overseeing support, use of differentiated strategies, and access to specialist equipment where appropriate (for example writing slopes, pencil grips, coloured overlays). For families with additional needs, the key question is not whether support exists, but how it is implemented day to day for your child, and what the communication rhythm looks like between home and school.

As a primary, the next step is Hampshire secondary transfer at Year 7. Because catchment arrangements and planning areas can change, families should treat secondary planning as an active process rather than a one-time decision, especially in a developing housing area. Hampshire County Council provides a catchment area finder for school planning, and the county guidance stresses using schools’ admissions policies where maps are unavailable or changing.

For pupils with SEND, the school describes transition work led by the SENCO, including attendance at transition events and liaison with the receiving secondary SENCO, plus focused learning to prepare pupils for change and, where possible, visits to the new school.

For parents building a shortlist, a practical step is to map likely secondary options early, then keep an eye on any Hampshire catchment adjustments that affect new developments, so you are not relying on assumptions made several years before transfer.

Stoneham Park’s admissions picture is competitive in the most common “new school in a new housing area” way: demand is rising as the community grows. For its Reception entry route, the school’s results shows 75 applications for 43 offers, and it is classed as oversubscribed. That equates to about 1.74 applications per place offered, with first-preference demand also higher than the number of offers. In plain terms, a nearby address helps, but it is sensible to apply with a realistic set of backup schools as well.

Applications for Reception (Year R) for September 2026 open on 01 November 2025 and close on 15 January 2026, and applications are made through Hampshire County Council. The national offer date stated on the school’s page is 16 April 2026, with appeals timetable dates also listed for that entry round.

Open events for prospective Reception parents for September 2026 entry were scheduled across September to December 2025, with multiple morning slots listed. The school also notes that if those open events have completed, families can request a visit.

In-year admissions are also addressed, with the school noting it is growing by year group each year and describing year-group availability and waiting lists at the time of publication.

Parents who want to sanity-check their options can use FindMySchool’s Map Search to compare their likely home-to-gate distance to local alternatives, and keep that comparison updated if you move or if local demand shifts.

The strongest externally validated indicator here is the behaviour judgement. For many families, Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes signals a calm baseline: clear boundaries, consistent routines, and fewer learning disruptions. That can be especially reassuring for pupils who need predictability, or for parents worried about “new school teething problems”.

The school also provides practical wellbeing and parent-support signposting through its parent information areas, and it publishes a wide set of statutory policies, including anti-bullying and child protection, which indicates a baseline of procedural seriousness for a relatively new setting.

Stoneham Park does a good job of publishing specific, named clubs with times and term dates, which is unusually helpful for a primary.

Examples include:

• Rocksteady music lessons during the school day (group tuition model).

• Eastleigh Football Club sessions for Years 3 to 5 after school (with term dates stated for Spring 2026).

• Theatre Kidz (performing arts) after school on Tuesdays.

• A Spanish club for all year groups with Spring 2026 dates and times listed.

• Guitar (Year 3+) and keyboard (Year 2+) lessons with per-term pricing stated on the club page.

• Taekwondo is also listed as an after-school option.

Wraparound care is also treated as part of the extended day offer, with breakfast and after-school club provision and pricing published.

FoSPA adds a community layer, with fundraising events that also subsidise trips. The implication is that enrichment is not just “nice to have”, it is being actively built into the school’s rhythm as the cohorts grow.

The published school day runs from 8.45am to 3.20pm, with classroom doors closing at 8.55am for registers, and lunch stated as 12pm to 1pm.

Wraparound care is available Monday to Friday via “Active for All”, with breakfast 7.30am to 8.45am and after-school provision 3.20pm to 6pm, with session prices published (and a note to check current pricing with the provider).

School meals are free for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 under Universal Infant Free School Meals. For Years 3 to 6, the school states meals cost £3.20 per day (as at July 2025).

Uniform is supplied through a named provider, and the school highlights that some items are made from recycled plastic bottles, which fits with the school’s wider sustainability messaging.

• A newer school means less published exam-history. With the school still growing cohorts and stating it does not yet have a Year 6 cohort, families who rely heavily on key stage 2 outcomes may prefer to track progress over the next few years as results become available.

• Reception entry is oversubscribed. With more applications than offers it is sensible to apply with a realistic set of alternative schools rather than assuming a place will be available.

• Some enrichment is provider-led and may change. Several clubs and tuition options are delivered by external organisations, which can be a strength for expertise, but also means schedules and costs can shift term to term.

• Secondary planning needs attention in a developing area. Catchments can be reviewed as new housing comes online, so do not leave Year 7 planning until the last minute. Use Hampshire guidance and check current arrangements.

Stoneham Park Primary Academy is a modern, growing state primary built for a new community, with a clear values framework and an unusually transparent approach to publishing day-to-day practical details. The biggest confidence signal is the behaviour culture, validated by an Outstanding judgement in that area alongside a Good overall Ofsted outcome.

Who it suits: families in and around North Stoneham Park who want a newer school with a strong routines baseline, sustainability woven into school life, and clear wraparound options. The main challenge is securing a place at Reception in an oversubscribed intake, and accepting that published long-run academic outcome data is still developing as cohorts mature.