Craneswater Junior School
Southsea, PO4 0PX · Portsmouth · primary school
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18th of 32 primary schools in Portsmouth we can score, 45 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.3/10 against 2,592 of them, against 2.4/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 53.0 · 24 | 40% | 0.96 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 2.0 · 24 | 25% | 0.60 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Craneswater Junior School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 53.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 2.0% reached the higher standard, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (2.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2022.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Artikids, Karate, Dance, Lego, and Minecraft clubs, play football, and take music lessons. Both breakfast and after-school clubs are available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 508 pupils against a stated capacity of 480. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What specific support is available for pupils who have not reached the expected standard? How has the curriculum evolved since the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Craneswater Junior School
Overview
Craneswater Junior School continues to be a good school, where pupils are proud and feel happy and safe. Leaders maintain high expectations, fostering an environment where students ‘learn to think – think to learn’ and value the strong relationships with staff. The school provides a wide range of opportunities for personal development, including residential trips and apprenticeship-style activities, ensuring pupils are well-prepared for their next stage of learning.
Strengths
- Leaders have designed an ‘ambitious curriculum’ that includes all pupils, regardless of barriers to learning.
- Teachers effectively check what pupils remember at the start of lessons to ensure ‘there are no gaps in their knowledge’.
- Pupils demonstrate strong personal development, living by values such as respect, responsibility, and resilience.
- Staff are well-trained to recognise and report safeguarding concerns, with leaders being ‘persistent and tenacious’ in securing support for vulnerable pupils.
- Pupils enjoy reading and appreciate the school library, with leaders believing reading is ‘absolutely fundamental’ for accessing future learning.
Areas to improve
- Some pupils in the lower years are not yet fluent readers, and support for them is ‘not as systematic as it could be’.
- Leaders must ensure all staff are fully trained to deliver the new phonics programme and that struggling readers access books matching their phonic knowledge.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff well-equipped to report concerns and a curriculum designed to help pupils keep themselves safe in and out of school.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 56% |
| 2023/24 | 57% |
| 2024/25 | 53% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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