Stamshaw Junior School
78%
Capacity
282
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Stamshaw Junior School
Stamshaw Junior School sits at the bottom of the Portsmouth primary school league table, ranking 32nd out of 32 schools in the local authority. Its headline metric tells a stark story: just 31% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2, compared with a local authority average of 53%. That gap of 22 percentage points is significant and places the school in the bottom 50% nationally. The school’s ranking score of 31 is less than half that of the top-performing local school, Ark Ayrton Primary Academy, which scored 80. These figures suggest that, in terms of raw academic attainment, Stamshaw faces considerable challenges relative to its Portsmouth peers.
A closer look at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results reveals a mixed picture across individual subjects. Reading was the strongest area, with 59% of pupils meeting the expected standard and an average scaled score of 100, which is exactly the national benchmark. Writing and maths were weaker, with 48% and 38% reaching the expected standard respectively, and maths produced an average score of 98. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard was very low: 14% in reading, 9% in maths, and none in writing or the combined measure. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2023, rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when the school was judged to Require Improvement overall.
The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage: 46.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. It offers a broad range of facilities including a library, forest school, sports hall, music rooms, ICT suite and a sensory room, alongside clubs in science, coding and art. Its SEND provision is comprehensive, covering eight areas from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder. With a capacity of 360 and only 282 pupils on roll, the school is undersubscribed, which may reflect the attainment challenges but also means places are readily available. Stamshaw Junior School is likely to suit families who value the strong pastoral and behavioural environment highlighted by Ofsted, and who are looking for a school that is actively working to improve academic outcomes from a low baseline.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 7 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Stamshaw Junior School, Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO2 8QH |
| Headteacher | Samantha Cantini |
| Local Authority | Portsmouth |
| Number of Pupils | 282 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 46.8% |
| School Capacity | 282 / 360 (78% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (31%)
13221st of 13,686
Nationally
1973rd of 2,034
In South East
32nd of 32
In Portsmouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
31%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
60%
'23/24
31%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:10
Source: stamshawjunior.chimat.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British63.8%
- White (other)11.7%
- Asian6.4%
- Mixed3.6%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
10
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Stamshaw Junior School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Stamshaw Junior School, Portsmouth
Portsmouth, PO2 8QH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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