Craneswater Junior School, Southsea

Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Craneswater Junior School on 6 areas: 2 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders identify pupils' needs at the earliest opportunity."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a comprehensive and carefully sequenced programme for personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders place a high priority on attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a well-planned curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have a clear and accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to embed the consistent approaches to securing pupils' foundational knowledge in mathematics and handwriting"; "Leaders should embed their chosen behaviour strategies to ensure greater consistency throughout the school so pupils develop increasing self-discipline towards learning".

In its own words: "Our vision for Craneswater Junior is to be a school that develops all our pupils as confident, well-rounded, caring young people who learn effectively and contribute to their communities and wider society."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, karate, dance, drama and Lego.

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Craneswater Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 66% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 70% and 68% in Portsmouth and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (74% in reading, 70% in maths).

Across Portsmouth, 93% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Portsmouth lodged 51 appeals against primary school offers; 30 reached a hearing and 4 succeeded (13.3% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Craneswater Junior School are Southsea Infant School (0.3 miles, Good); St Swithun's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); Bramble Infant School and Nursery (0.4 miles, Good); and Cumberland Infant School (0.4 miles, Good).

In 2026, 55 pupils (10.8%) received SEN support and 27 (5.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Fratton Rail Station, about 1180 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Festing Road (w-bound), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 841 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Portsmouth (499), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Craneswater Junior School issued 5 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Craneswater Junior School are Priory School (0.7 miles) and Ark Charter Academy (1 mile).