Highbury Primary School commended for inclusion and "forensic approach" to identifying pupils' needs in Ofsted report
Inclusion is at the heart of a primary school which leaves no stone unturned when it comes to ensuring all students have access to equal opportunities.
Highbury Primary School, in Dovercourt Road, Cosham, has been described as an “aspirational” setting that has been commended by Ofsted for its inclusion in its latest inspection report.
The school, which was inspected by Ofsted on November 18, 2025, makes sure the provision is “safe and resourced well” and children in early years benefit from “high quality care”.
As part of a major shakeup with Ofsted, school reports are now presented differently with each criteria being ranked exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention or urgent attention.
Highbury Primary School secured ‘expected standard’ in all areas apart from inclusion which achieved a strong standard rating.
The Ofsted report said: “Leaders leave nothing to chance with inclusion. They are determined that all disadvantaged pupils should have every opportunity to achieve and thrive.
“Clear policies and processes ensure that all staff know what they need to do to provide the very best for pupils in their care.
“The school has a forensic approach to identifying pupils' needs right from when they start. Pupils' additional needs and the support they should receive are pin-pointed in granular detail. This helps staff understand how to respond to pupils' needs well.”
During the early years “leaders prioritise developing children's language and communication skills” and “staff benefit from expert training that enables them to deliver this programme well.”
The report added: “The school's curriculum is broad and ambitious. It is sensibly sequenced and ensures that pupils learn the important knowledge and skills they need to be successful over time. On the whole, teachers have the subject knowledge they need to deliver the curriculum well.”
The inspection found that staff make regular checks to ensure children retain knowledge, making it easier to identify gaps in learning.
The school prioritises English, maths and reading, and students learn new vocabulary by talking about books and reading materials.
The report identified that some students “struggle” with their handwriting but recent work is starting to show some success in making improvements to this.
The safeguarding measures are effective and there is a strong culture of keeping children safe.
The inspection explained that leaders “should continue to improve the effectiveness of teaching to ensure that it consistently supports pupils to learn the important knowledge they need to be ready for their next steps.”