Penbridge Infant School & Nursery

About Penbridge Infant School & Nursery

Penbridge Infant School & Nursery is a popular choice among Portsmouth families, and the numbers back that up. For entry in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 108 applications for just 54 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 2:1. Of those applications, 47 were first-preference choices, and all 47 of those families were offered a place. That suggests a strong local reputation, even if the school doesn't publish a formal parent-view survey percentage. The school is a state-funded, mixed-gender primary for children aged 2 to 7, led by headteacher Anna Webb. It also has a nursery provision, which is a practical bonus for families with younger siblings. With 207 pupils on roll against a capacity of 238, there is some headroom, but the high application numbers mean it's worth getting your application in early if you're in the catchment area.

Academically, Penbridge Infant School & Nursery holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections. The most recent graded inspection took place in 2013, where the school scored 2 (Good) for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision. An ungraded inspection in September 2022 confirmed that the school remains Good. Because this is an infant school, there are no Key Stage 2 SATs results to compare against the Portsmouth local authority average of 53% achieving the expected standard. However, the early years provision was rated Good in 2013, and the school's focus on the foundation stage is a key part of its offering. For context, there are no outstanding primary schools in the local authority, so a Good rating here places it among the better options in Portsmouth, alongside peers like Ark Ayrton Primary Academy and Langstone Primary Academy.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its young pupils, including a library, music rooms, an outdoor playground, playing fields, and a forest school area. Sports on offer include netball, athletics, tennis, and cricket, and there are clubs such as Eco Club, Book Club, and Drama. For families with children who need extra support, the school has a SEN unit and provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. The oversubscription ratio of 2:1 suggests a school that is well-regarded locally, particularly among families who value a strong early-years foundation and a Good Ofsted rating. It is not a boarding school and has no sixth form, which is standard for an infant school. This is a school best suited to families in the Portsmouth area looking for a solid, well-subscribed state option for their child's first years of formal education.

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