Moorings Way Infant School

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 7 · Mixed

Part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST

Moorings Way, Milton, Southsea, PO4 8YJ

03333 602170 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card2 strong, 5 expectedSafeguarding met · 13 January 2026
Pupils116Room for 135 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 138 in 2019, 167 in 2021, 151 in 2022, 149 in 2023, 121 in 2024, 127 in 2025, 116 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.031 for 30 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 8 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 79% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 13 January 2026 , published 16 March 2026.

In short: 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Portsmouth comparisons use the 3 of its 45 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 42 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.

StatementThis schoolPortsmouthEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth.
Higher than 64% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 88% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth.
Higher than 60% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 88% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth.
Higher than 35% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 73% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 16 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth.
Higher than 45% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81% 66% 74%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth.
Higher than 65% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95%said yes 79% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 17%). 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. Portsmouth figures pool parents at the Portsmouth 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Portsmouth. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered30
Families who put it first31
Of those, offered a place28 (90%)
Families who listed it at all102

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Portsmouth

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolPortsmouthEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
17.3% 34.7%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.1% 4.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
11.0% 14.1%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.3% 24.2%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
7th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.0% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
4th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
9.7% 12.8%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
9th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Lower than 26% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
3.1 3.2 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
8th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.8% 1.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 8% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
15.1 20.7 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
10th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 4% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
6.7 9.7 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea.
Higher than 82% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
24.2% 14.3%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Moorings Way Infant School's Ofsted rating?

Moorings Way Infant School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 13 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.

Would parents recommend Moorings Way Infant School?

95% of the 22 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Moorings Way Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Moorings Way Infant School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 31 families put Moorings Way Infant School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 28 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.