Classpot

Highbury Primary School

Portsmouth, PO6 2RZPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2026
KS2 Results
55%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
46 1st-choice / 48 places
Ranking
#9,283
of 13,686 nationally

About Highbury Primary School

Highbury Primary School sits in the middle of the pack in Portsmouth, and its headline Key Stage 2 results tell a story of solid, if not spectacular, performance. The school’s proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 55%, which is just above the local authority average of 53%. That places it 16th out of 45 primary schools in Portsmouth, right on the 50th percentile — bang in the middle of the road. Where the school really stands out is in reading: 77% of pupils hit the expected standard and 33% reached the higher standard, both noticeably stronger than the maths and writing figures. Maths is the weaker subject here, with 68% at expected and only 15% at the higher level. So while Highbury isn’t challenging the top performers in the city, it’s doing a decent job of getting most children to where they need to be, particularly in reading.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDovercourt Road, Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO6 2RZ
HeadteacherJoanne Watson
Local AuthorityPortsmouth
Number of Pupils411
Free School Meals (FSM)26.3%
School Capacity411 / 420 (98% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

1 Dec 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
GymnasiumSports HallDining HallPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

8

Sports

FootballRoundersCricketSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubCodingEco ClubScience Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Highbury Primary School

Highbury Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.