Best Primary Schools in Portsmouth 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 45 schools across Portsmouth. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Portsmouth has 45 open primary schools. On our composite Schools Near Me score, St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Portsmouth follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

45
Total schools
0
Outstanding (historic grade)
0%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
56.1%
Avg KS2 SATs
33.8
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 82 View school
🥈 Bramble Infant School and Nursery
Primary
 Good 80 View school
🥉 Devonshire Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
4. Cumberland Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
5. Southsea Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
6. Manor Infant and Nursery School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
7. Court Lane Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
8. Solent Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
9. Moorings Way Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
10. King's Academy College Park (Infant)
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. Penbridge Infant School & Nursery
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. Stamshaw Infant Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. Ark Ayrton Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 79 View school
14. St Paul's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
15. St Swithun's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 75 View school
16. Ark Dickens Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 74 View school
17. Westover Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
18. Meon Junior School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
19. Gatcombe Park Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school
20. Highbury Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Portsmouth

Best primary schools in PortsmouthTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in PortsmouthTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in PortsmouthPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in PortsmouthYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary schools are there in Portsmouth?
There are 45 open primary schools in Portsmouth (closed schools are excluded). 0 of the 45 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Portsmouth?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Portsmouth is St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Portsmouth?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Portsmouth?
Primary and secondary applications in Portsmouth are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Portsmouth council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.