SchoolScoresHigh Down Junior School
Academy · Primary, ages 7 to 11 · Mixed
Part of LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
Down Road, Portishead, Bristol, BS20 6DY
01275 843969 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 December 2015. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 6 November 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
99 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bristol comparisons use the 108 of its 220 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 112 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Bristol | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 75th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 71st highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 77th highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 19% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 36 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 19th highest of 94 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 85 parents who had raised a concern Joint 71st highest of 104 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 26% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 80% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 19 parents of children with SEND 34th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 7% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 71% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 72nd highest of 108 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bristol. Higher than 28% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 29%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bristol figures pool parents at the Bristol schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
78 pupils in this year group.
72% — 9 points above the North Somerset average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | North Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 82% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 81% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 86% | 75% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in North Somerset. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | North Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 152nd highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.1% | 16.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 110th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 189th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.9% | 10.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 167th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 10.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 60th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 67% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 60th lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 71% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.4% | 11.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 95% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.3 | 21.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 57th highest of 220 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 85% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.1 | 10.9 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 66th highest of 212 state primary schools in Bristol. Higher than 76% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 21.0% | 15.8%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- High Down Infant School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- St Peter's CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2021 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Portishead Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Trinity Anglican-Methodist Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Tickenham CofE Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 88% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is High Down Junior School's Ofsted rating?
High Down Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 December 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 6 November 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did High Down Junior School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend High Down Junior School?
84% of the 99 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend High Down Junior School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 143286.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.