SCHOOL catchment areas in Basingstoke are set to have a shake-up as the council prepares to open a new 420-place primary school in the town.

Hampshire County Council held a consultation on school catchment area changes for several Basingstoke schools, as it plans to open the new Hounsome Fields Primary School in September 2025.

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Now, the council is proposing to change the catchment area of six schools in the town to take account of the new housing sites at Hounsome Fields and Basingstoke Golf Course.

The schools affected are Hatch Warren infant and junior schools, Kempshott infant and junior Schools, North Waltham Primary School, and St Marks CE (Aided) Primary School.

To see a map of the proposed changes click here. 

The two new housing developments are currently served by these schools. However, the council has proposed that the catchment for children living in these new developments, along with some existing houses in the nearby area, becomes part of the catchment for the new primary school, which will have 420 places.

The council held a consultation on the proposed catchment changes before it appoints an academy sponsor, which will become the admissions authority for the new school.

If approved, it will mean that some children will no longer have catchment priority at these schools from September 2025.

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For families in the affected areas with children already in the schools, the council has proposed transitional arrangements.

For those at Hatch Warren infant and junior schools, Kempshott infant and junior schools and North Waltham Primary School, a child starting school for the first time who has a sibling on roll – who was on roll prior to the catchment change in September 2025 and who will still be attending the school at the time of the child’s admission – will be given catchment priority up to and including admission in September 2028.

St Mark’s Primary School is its own admissions authority and will undertake its own consultation to alter the school’s catchment area.

If approved, it will remove an area from the catchment and children living in the area will not have catchment priority from September 2025.

The consultation on the plans has now closed before a final decision is made on February 20, 2024.