Meon Junior School

About Meon Junior School

Meon Junior School’s headline Key Stage 2 result sits slightly above the Portsmouth local authority average for primary schools, with 56% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 53%. That three-point gap is modest but consistent, and it places the school 14th out of 45 primary schools in the city, just inside the top third. The school’s ranking score of 56 puts it in the bottom 50% nationally, but within Portsmouth it is a solidly mid-table performer. What stands out is that the school achieves this without a standout Ofsted rating — it has held a Good rating since at least its 2014 graded inspection, and a 2021 ungraded inspection confirmed it remains Good. That steady, unflashy profile may appeal to parents looking for reliability rather than a school chasing headlines.

Digging into the 2023/24 SATs data, the picture is mixed. In maths, 73% of pupils reached the expected standard and 27% hit the higher standard, with an average score of 103. Reading was slightly weaker: 64% at expected and 25% at higher, with an average score of 104. Writing lagged behind, with 67% at expected but only 4% reaching the higher standard. The combined expected rate of 56% is the metric that drives the school’s ranking, and it is worth noting that the proportion reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined is just 4% — a very low figure. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say whether pupils are making strong gains from their starting points, but the raw attainment suggests the school is particularly strong at getting most children to the expected level in maths, while stretching fewer into the top tier.

The school is close to capacity with 349 pupils against a 360-place limit, and 28.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and suggests a diverse intake. Facilities include a sensory room, forest school, gymnasium, art studios, music rooms and even a chapel, which is unusual for a state primary. Sports offered are tennis, gymnastics, football and dance, and clubs include art, gardening, book club, eco club and chess. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities and other difficulties. This is a school that seems well set up to support a wide range of needs, and the forest school and sensory room suggest a practical, inclusive approach. It would suit families who value a stable, Good-rated school with strong maths outcomes and a genuinely inclusive ethos, rather than one chasing top-tier academic results.

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