Highbury Primary School "absolutely thrilled" at glowing Ofsted report following inspection under new framework
Staff are “absolutely thrilled” with its latest Ofsted inspection which has praised the school’s inclusivity.
Highbury Primary School, located in Dovercourt Road, Cosham, has been described as a “supportive and nurturing” community in its most recent Ofsted inspection, which took place on November 18, 2025.
Recent changes with Ofsted means school reports are now presented differently with each criterion being ranked: Exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention or urgent attention.
The primary school inspection found that inclusion is being delivered at a strong standard, while the remaining criterion at the expected standard.
The Ofsted said: “Leaders make sure that pupils' individual needs are known and addressed well. This gives everyone every chance of being successful. Classrooms are calm, focused places. Generally, pupils are attentive and they work hard.
“Pupils benefit from a range of opportunities that enhance and enrich the curriculum. The school makes effective use of the wealth of resources available in the local area, such as museums and leisure facilities.”
The school also ensures that all students make significant progress, with support in place for disadvantaged pupils or children with special educational needs. Leaders and staff have a “clear understanding” of the school and potential barriers in families that may impact pupils’ learning.
Jo Watson, headteacher at the school, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with our Ofsted - we were one of the first schools in Portsmouth to go through the new framework and to have such a positive outcome and wonderful narrative reflects the hard work we’ve been doing.”
The report also highlighted that the curriculum is “ambitious” and “broad”, and that students learn knowledge effectively, with staff explaining information clearly.
Maths and English are priorities at the school, with reading at the heart of the teaching. Pupils have access to a range of texts which allows them to develop their vocabulary and phonics.
“Key vocabulary is threaded through the curriculum. Staff ensure that they read to children whenever possible, explaining unknown words and phrases clearly”. the report added.
The safeguarding measures are effective and there is a strong culture of keeping pupils safe.
In order to maintain its positive work, Highbury Primary School should continue to implement the “effectiveness of teaching” to ensure it “consistently supports” pupils so they are ready for their next steps.