St Jude’s Catholic Primary School, Fareham Review 2026: Catholic primary with strong KS2 outcomes and a distinctive inclusion offer

This is a smaller Catholic primary serving local parishes in and around Fareham, with a clear faith-through-school-life feel and a practical focus on routines, relationships, and learning habits. Recent outcomes at the end of Year 6 are a major strength: 86.3% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024, well above the England average of 62%. The higher standard figure is also striking, with 35.7% reaching the higher standard compared with 8% across England. Alongside mainstream provision, the school also runs a specially resourced provision for pupils with hearing impairment, with associated whole-school signing work that gives inclusion a visible, everyday presence.

The tone is purposeful but warm. A big part of that comes from the way expectations are framed as routines and relationships rather than as constant sanctions. The most recent inspection notes pupils speak highly of the school and describes behaviour as very good, with calm concentration in lessons and positive play at breaktimes. That same report also highlights a strong community contribution strand, including pupil leadership focused on practical projects and local charity choices.

Catholic life is not a bolt-on. The admissions policy is explicit that Catholic doctrine and practice permeate the school’s activity, and the school’s own headline phrase, “Achieving together in God’s love”, signals the day-to-day framing families can expect. A Section 48 inspection is also referenced as having taken place in January 2024, which is typical for schools of a religious character and reinforces how formally faith education is monitored alongside Ofsted.

The school’s recent development story is also unusually concrete for a primary. A 2023 newsletter describes a run of capital improvements and refurbishments, including a new roof, automatic gates, and a repurposed ICT suite into a music and drama room, plus a refit for the hearing resource provision and improved acoustics across the school. Those details matter because they point to a school that invests in the practical conditions for learning, not just the curriculum plan on paper.

Nursery provision, what it adds

Nursery and pre-school sit alongside the main school, and the early years approach is presented in a way that emphasises partnership with families. The pre-school curriculum page explains that each child has an online learning journal using Tapestry, with parents able to contribute observations, photos, and videos. In practice, that kind of two-way record can smooth transitions into Reception because staff can see a fuller picture of communication, play preferences, and independence skills before formal schooling begins.

Importantly, nursery attendance does not automatically lead to a Reception place. The admissions policy spells this out directly, so families using the nursery as a stepping-stone should treat Reception as a separate application with its own deadlines and criteria.

The headline KS2 figure is strong. In 2024, 86.3% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 62% across England. Science is similarly positive, with 86% meeting the expected standard compared with 82% across England.

Depth is where the profile becomes distinctive. At the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, 35.7% achieved this level, far above the England benchmark of 8%. That suggests the school is not only securing baseline proficiency but is also stretching a substantial group of pupils into more demanding application and reasoning.

Rankings align with that picture. Ranked 2315th in England and 4th in Fareham for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits above England average and comfortably within the top 25% of primaries nationally, with a particularly strong local position. For parents comparing nearby options, the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tools can help you line up results and context side-by-side rather than relying on reputation alone.

Curriculum intent appears ambitious and structured, with particular clarity in the core areas. The 2025 inspection report describes an ambitious curriculum and notes that, in subjects such as English and mathematics, the important knowledge is set out in detail and sequenced sensibly so pupils can make connections over time. Teaching is described as having strong subject knowledge, with consistent checking of understanding and swift correction of errors.

There is also a candid improvement edge. In a small number of subjects, the same report indicates that the essential knowledge and the order of teaching are not specified with enough clarity, which can make it harder for teachers to know exactly what must be taught and when. For families, the practical implication is that the core offer is a strength, and broader foundation subjects may be the area where you ask leaders how curriculum refinement is being managed and how consistency is checked across classes.

Early years receives specific attention as a strong start. The report describes a warm and welcoming early years environment and suggests children benefit from strong adult interactions and routines that build independence and readiness to learn. That is valuable in a school with a nursery and Reception on site, because consistency of language and routines across the early phase can make a noticeable difference to confidence and behaviour.

As a primary, the key transition is into Year 7. The school’s published materials emphasise preparation for “next steps” and, practically, a good Year 6 will include the usual transition work around organisation, friendships, and emotional readiness. The wider wellbeing content on the site also points families towards transition support resources for Year 6, which fits a school that takes anxieties seriously rather than dismissing them as a rite of passage.

Secondary destinations vary significantly by address in Hampshire, and for Catholic families, by parish links and oversubscription rules at faith secondaries. The most practical step is to use Hampshire’s coordinated admissions information alongside visits and open events at likely secondaries, then map realistic travel time. A tool like FindMySchoolMap Search is useful here because distance and routes can look very different once you switch from “local” to “actually walkable at 8am”.

Demand is real even with a smaller intake. Recent admissions data shows 51 applications for 29 offers for Reception, with the route recorded as oversubscribed. That is not a school where late decisions are risk-free. It rewards early planning, clean paperwork, and a realistic understanding of how faith categories and distance operate.

This is a voluntary aided Catholic school, so the governing body acts as admissions authority and uses faith-based oversubscription criteria. The 2026 to 2027 admissions policy sets the Reception admission number at 30 for September 2026 and confirms that the local authority coordinates applications during the normal round. If applying under a faith-based category, families are strongly requested to complete a supplementary information form, with supporting documentation, by 15 January 2026. Offers are issued on 16 April 2026 (or the next working day).

Oversubscription rules follow a recognisable Catholic structure: Catholic looked after and previously looked after children first, then other Catholic children, then other looked after and previously looked after children, then other faith categories, then all other children. Within categories, a sibling link raises priority, then distance from home to the school’s main entrance acts as the tiebreaker using straight-line measurement. If distances are tied at the cut-off, random allocation is used and must be supervised independently of the school.

In-year admissions are handled directly with the school when outside the main round, with oversubscription criteria applied if places are limited. Waiting lists are maintained in oversubscription order, and for the 2026 intake the list is held until 31 July 2026 unless families request to remain on it.

Pastoral support is unusually explicit and multi-layered for a primary of this size. The school publishes information about Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) support, describing the role as a trained, supervised specialist teaching assistant who helps remove emotional barriers to learning. The published list of support themes includes anxiety, friendship issues, anger management, bullying, and bereavement, which is a broad set of issues for a primary population and suggests a deliberate strategy rather than a reactive one.

Inclusion also shows up structurally. Pupils with SEND are described in the 2025 inspection report as receiving high-quality support, with targeted interventions and careful identification of need. The report also notes bespoke learning packages delivered by expert staff within the specially resourced provision, and indicates these pupils access phonics and wider learning through consistent approaches.

Safeguarding is reported as effective in the most recent inspection, which matters because it is the non-negotiable foundation for everything else, from behaviour to attendance culture to how concerns are handled.

This is not a “one club fits all” offer. The published club list mixes school-run and external-provider options, which is typical of smaller primaries that want breadth without overstretching staff capacity. Current examples include netball, gymnastics, and SKA Karate, plus a drama club (Big Mouth Theatre) and Rocksteady music sessions. The site also notes teacher-led clubs that vary through the year, citing examples such as sewing club, debate club, and science club. The implication for families is that provision can change term by term, and it is worth asking what the current cycle looks like for your child’s year group.

Some opportunities are built into the identity rather than being optional extras. Forest School is described as an important part of the curriculum from the beginning of Reception, using the school’s “beautiful site” with wildlife and mature trees to take learning outdoors regularly. When Forest School is genuinely embedded, it tends to support speaking and listening, teamwork, and practical problem-solving, while also giving children who struggle with desk-based learning another route to confidence.

The Oscar Romero Rangers are another distinctive feature because they connect Catholic social teaching to real action. The Rangers are a pupil leadership group spanning Years 2 to 6, and their published updates describe project work around a sensory garden plan plus practical charity support, including a local homelessness charity drive. For some children, that sort of structured responsibility becomes a major confidence builder, especially for those who do not naturally gravitate to sport.

STEM

Primary STEM here shows up in two concrete ways. First, the school’s published development work includes investment in new science equipment via parent fundraising, which suggests science is treated as more than a once-a-week add-on. Second, the inspection report highlights strong outcomes in core knowledge and sequencing in key areas, and the same “clear progression” mindset is what makes primary science and computing stick beyond the topic week. The best question to ask at an open event is simple: what does progression look like in science from Reception to Year 6, and how is it assessed beyond worksheets?

Mornings run to a tight timetable. Gates open at 08:30 and pupils are expected to be in class ready for registration by 08:40. The school has also described this timing change as part of ensuring statutory teaching hours, which signals a leadership team that pays attention to operational details.

Wraparound care is clearly set out. Breakfast club runs from 07:30, and after-school club runs from the end of the day until 17:30, with a published end-of-day collection reference of 15:10 for the after-school club start window. This is term-time provision run by the school’s own staff, with food included.

Lunch and extras follow normal state-school patterns. This is a state school with no tuition fees, but families should budget for uniform, trips, lunches (if not eligible for free school meals), and optional clubs.

• Catholic admissions criteria matter. The oversubscription categories explicitly prioritise Catholic children when the school is full. If you are applying on faith grounds, paperwork timing and evidence can materially change your child’s priority band.

• Competition for Reception places. Recent admissions numbers show more applicants than offers, so families should treat this as a school where planning ahead is sensible, not optional.

• Curriculum refinement in a few subjects. The most recent inspection highlights that sequencing is not equally clear in every subject, which can affect consistency. Ask how leaders are tightening curriculum maps and how that is monitored across year groups.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception. The policy is explicit that pre-school attendance does not automatically lead to a Reception place, so families using nursery as a pathway still need a full Reception application strategy.

A Catholic primary that couples strong KS2 outcomes with an unusually visible inclusion story, particularly through its hearing resource provision and whole-school signing culture. It suits families who want clear routines, strong core learning, and a faith-shaped ethos that is present throughout daily life, not limited to assemblies. The limiting factor is admission, especially for non-Catholic applicants in oversubscribed years, so families should be realistic and organised when applying.