Solent Junior School

About Solent Junior School

Solent Junior School in Portsmouth is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11, and it is currently full to the brim. With exactly 360 pupils on roll and a school capacity of 360, there is no spare room, which suggests strong local demand for places. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 13.1%, which is below the national average for primary schools and indicates a relatively less deprived intake compared with many schools nationally. The school is non-denominational and mixed, and its headteacher is Lucy Wilby. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, which took place in 2025, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. The previous graded inspection in 2014 also awarded a Good rating, so the school has a consistent track record of solid performance. Parent feedback is generally positive: 88% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy and feels safe.

Academically, Solent Junior School performs around the middle of the pack locally. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 61% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Portsmouth local authority average of 53%. That places the school 9th out of 32 primary schools in the city, putting it in the top third locally. Nationally, it ranks in the 54th percentile, so it is broadly average for England. The school's strongest subject at KS2 was maths, where 79% of pupils met the expected standard and 19% reached the higher standard. Reading and writing were slightly weaker, with 72% and 76% meeting expectations respectively. Only 8% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, which is a fairly low figure. Progress scores are not available, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds beyond raw attainment.

The school offers a decent range of facilities, including a gymnasium, forest school, sensory room and a chapel. Sports on offer include gymnastics, tennis, cricket and dance, while clubs cover film, coding, art, science and chess. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. However, parent views on SEND support are split: 36% strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 27% disagreed. The school is a good fit for families who want a solid, well-regarded local primary that is full and popular, but who are not necessarily looking for a top-tier academic performer. Given its full capacity and Good rating, securing a place may require living close to the catchment area.

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