A SOUTHAMPTON school rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted since 2001 has been named one of the best in the country.

Portswood Primary School appears on a list of the top 20 primaries in the latest edition of Parent Power - the annual guide published by The Sunday Times.

Parent Power identifies the highest-achieving schools in the UK, ranked by their examination results from 2017-19.

Results recorded 2020 and 2021 have not been used in determining this year’s rankings because of the disruption caused by the pandemic.

A Parent Power spokesman said: "As well as assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same town, local authority or nationally.

"Primary school rankings are based on the average outcomes achieved by schools in Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in the three years 2017-19."

The principal of Portswood Primary School is Tony Head, who was appointed in 2016.

Writing on the school's website the executive headteacher, Amanda Parry, says: "Portswood is an outstanding school where children are at the centre of everything we do.

"We believe all members of the school community should aim high and dream big. We have high aspirations for all.

"Our aim is that every child fulfils their potential regardless of aptitude or barriers to learning. We are committed to being an outstanding, self-improving school and to support the professional development of all within the school community.

"It is my absolute pleasure to work with Tony Head and all the staff and governors to provide excellent educational opportunities for the children."

A separate statement on the website adds: "We want children to be confident and independent, have a thirst for learning and to care about themselves, other people and the world around them. We aim to do this by achieving the highest standards possible."

Two years ago Portswood was named as one of the top performing schools in Hampshire.

Figures from the Department for Education revealed the percentage of children meeting the expected standard across all three tests in reading, writing and mathematics.

The tables were based on how pupils in each school performed in SATs tests.

Portswood topped the list of schools in the Southampton City Council area, with 93% of children meeting the expected standards.

The school is part of the HISP Multi-Academy Trust, based at Thornden School in Winchester Road, Chandler's Ford.

The Daily Echo approached Portswood about it Parent Power rating but the school did not respond to requests for comment.