Cumberland Infant School
Methuen Road, Southsea, PO4 9HJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Cumberland Infant School is a primary school in Southsea for ages 2 to 7. It is one of the 65 schools in Portsmouth. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 6 December 2022, report published 26 January 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 6 December 2022
Pupils are keen and excited to learn. Leaders have high expectations for pupils to learn a broad range of knowledge in a wide variety of subjects. This starts in the early years, where children enjoy learning to jump, climb and construct in the brand new 'physical development zone'. Pupils feel safe here. Older pupils educate younger pupils about keeping safe. The Year 2 'ambassadors' are rightly proud of the anti-bullying information leaflet they helped leaders produce. Incidents of bullying are very rare, but when they happen, staff take them seriously and resolve them quickly. Leaders ensure that pupils have the chance to make a positive contribution to their local community. Pupils have learned how to encourage wildlife into urban areas through helping to install wildflower planters on local streets. Pupils also know the importance of being kind to all. They showed this through donating specially made artwork to the residents of a local care home. Pupils enjoy opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Trips to places such as Portchester Castle and Marwell Zoo broaden pupils' knowledge of the local area. Pupils also enjoy learning from visitors to the school. This has included learning about orchestral instruments from a brass band.
What the school should improve
- There are some inconsistencies in how well some pupils are supported to learn to read. This means that not all pupils can read confidently and fluently. Leaders should ensure that these inconsistencies are ironed out, so that all pupils learn to read quickly.
- Some of the learning activities that teachers provide do not always allow pupils to develop a deep and detailed understanding in all subjects. This means that, while pupils achieve highly in some subjects, this is not the case in all. Leaders need to ensure that teachers provide pupils with appropriate learning opportunities to enable them to acquire deep and detailed knowledge across the ambitious curriculum.
Pupil numbers and mix
172 pupils on roll, with places for 180
Schools near Cumberland Infant School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimborne Primary School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 51% met the expected standard |
| Milton Park Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 53% met the expected standard |
| Devonshire Infant School | 0.4 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Not published |
| Craneswater Junior School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 53% met the expected standard |
| Fernhurst Junior School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 55% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 2 to 7
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rebecca Herbert
- Phone
- 02392733161
- Address
- Methuen Road, Southsea, PO4 9HJ
- Local authority
- Portsmouth
- URN
- 116192
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.