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Lymington HarbourPhoto: Charlesdrakew · Public domain
A−School Grade
Schools in Lymington · DfE, Ofsted

Lymington’s state schools outscore 84% of towns in England

At Lymington’s secondaries, 57% of pupils reach grade 5 in both English and maths, above both Hampshire’s towns (45%) and towns in England (45%). Lymington grades A− for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #14 of 76 in Hampshire. Ofsted is shown, not graded.

State schools
5
4 primary, 1 secondary
Reading, writing & maths
67%
meet the expected standard at 11 · 2023–25
England’s schools: 62%
Attainment 8
51.3
GCSE average across 8 subjects · 2025/26
England’s schools: 47.3
Grade 5+ English & maths
57%
a strong pass in both · 2025/26
England’s schools: 47%

Town figures are pupil-weighted across the schools the grade uses; England’s are the average school.

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about Lymington’s schools

Strong at both ages

Lymington’s secondary results beat 83% of English towns; its primary results beat 77%. 67% of the town’s 11-year-olds meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England and 62% across Hampshire. Every school’s result ↓

Our Lady and St Joseph beats its intake

Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools, 30% of pupils are on free school meals and 91% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 60%. Results and intake ↓

Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.

School Grade

Lymington grades A− for schools

Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.

Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (67% meet the standard)Better than 77% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (51.3 and 57%)Better than 83% of towns in England
Each of Lymington’s 3 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)40%50%60%70%80%90%100%England 62%Hampshire 62%Pennington Church of England Primary School: 47% · DLymington Junior School: 73% · A−Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools: 91% · A+
England’s average schoolHampshire’s average school

The primary figure: 3 primaries in the town, 351 pupils in results over three years. Lymington has 1 secondary of its own with GCSE results, too few to judge on, so the secondary figure uses the 1 graded secondary in and within 3 km of the town (238 pupils in results). Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.

Map

Where Lymington’s 5 state schools are

Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Lymington’s built-up area.

PrimarySecondary (named)Special, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter

Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.

Results and intake

Which schools do better than their intake suggests

Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.

Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals40%50%60%70%80%90%100%0%10%20%30%40%50%Pupils on free school meals →typical school in EnglandLymington Junior School: 73% with 18% on free school meals (a typical school with that intake: 64%)Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools: 91% with 30% on free school meals (a typical school with that intake: 60%)Pennington Church of England Primary School: 47% with 50% on free school meals (a typical school with that intake: 55%)Our Lady and St JosephLymington JuniorPennington

The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 12% at Lymington Church of England Infant School to 50% at Pennington Church of England Primary School. Against schools with the same intake, Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools does best: 91% with 30% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 60%. 2 of 3 primaries are above the line.

Show as a table
SchoolFree school mealsResultTypical for that intakeDifference
Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of SchoolsKS2 %30%91%60%+31
Lymington Junior SchoolKS2 %18%73%64%+9
Pennington Church of England Primary SchoolKS2 %50%47%55%−8

Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.

Getting a place

How school places work in Lymington

Hampshire County Council handles applications for every state school in Lymington, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.

Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.

When a school is full

Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 3 of Lymington’s 5 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.

Useful: Apply for a primary place (GOV.UK) · Apply for a secondary place (GOV.UK) · How admissions criteria work

How full each school is

Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 1 school is at or over it.

Lymington100%
Priestlands99%
Lymington Junior95%
Our Lady and St Joseph90%
Pennington81%

DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.

The schools

5 state schools in Lymington

Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.

Letters of Lymington’s schoolsA 3B 0C 0D 11 without a letter

Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.

Ofsted

Ofsted inspections

Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.

Outstanding 2Good 1Ungraded inspection only 2

Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.

Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 0 of Lymington’s 5 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.

Who runs them

1 academy trust and the council

Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.

Run bySchoolsPupilsTheir letters
Priestlands SchoolPriestlands11,205A−
Hampshire County CouncilLymington Junior, Lymington, Pennington, Our Lady and St Joseph4704A−DA+
After 16

Where Lymington’s teenagers go at 16

In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.

The state secondary in Lymington teaches 11 to 16. The nearest college is Brockenhurst College, a further-education college 4.6 miles away.

Secondaries with a sixth form
0 of 1
state schools in Lymington
Colleges within 12 miles
2
nearest: Brockenhurst College
Grammar schools in Hampshire
0
no selective state secondaries
CollegeDistance
Brockenhurst CollegeFurther-education college · SO42 7ZE4.6 mi
The Isle of Wight CollegeFurther-education college · PO30 5TA11.6 mi
Towns its size

50th of 348 English towns of 10,000 to 20,000

Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns either side of Lymington, and the top and bottom of the group.

#TownSchoolsKS2Attainment 8Grade 5+ E&M
1Amersham BuckinghamshireA+79%64.383%
…
46Honley West YorkshireA−64%55.569%
47Farncombe SurreyA−65%55.362%
48Standish Greater ManchesterA−83%48.346%
49Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint West SussexA−65%53.761%
50Lymington HampshireA−67%51.357%
51Ringwood HampshireA−68%50.854%
52Poulton-le-Fylde LancashireA−72%48.649%
53Midsomer Norton SomersetA−69%49.450%
54Streetly West MidlandsA−77%46.948%
…
348Sandown Isle of WightD−52%3216%
Neighbours

Lymington and the places around it

Coloured by School Grade.

Everton: AMilford on Sea: A−Hordle: A−Sway: A+Ashley: B−Brockenhurst: A+New Milton: B−EvertonMilford on SeaHordleSwayAshleyBrockenhurstNew MiltonLymington
TownSchoolsKS2Att. 8
Lymington
5 schools
A−67%51.3
Everton
0 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 1.9 mi
A69%51.3
Milford on Sea
1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 2.7 mi
A−67%—
Hordle
1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 2.7 mi
A−67%—
Sway
1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 3.3 mi
A+80%—
Ashley
2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.8 mi
B−68%40.4
Brockenhurst
1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.5 mi
A+75%—
New Milton
4 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.8 mi
B−64%45.2

Sway has the best-graded schools nearby (A+). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.

How to read these numbers

What this data can and can’t tell you

  • Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
  • Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Lymington: 16% (England’s average school: 8%).
  • Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
  • Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
  • Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
  • Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
  • Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
  • Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.

Questions about schools in Lymington

Are schools in Lymington good?

Lymington’s state schools earn an A− against schools across England: primary results beat 77% of towns in England; secondary results beat 83% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Hampshire council.

What is the best primary school in Lymington?

On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools: 91% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.

Do Lymington secondary schools have sixth forms?

No. The state secondary teaches 11–16; students move at 16 to a college, a sixth form elsewhere or an apprenticeship.

How do I apply for a school place in Lymington?

Through Hampshire County Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).

How many schools in Lymington are full?

1 of 5 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.

How many state schools are in Lymington?

5 open state-funded schools are located in Lymington’s built-up area: 4 primary, 1 secondary and 0 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.

Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.