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Local authority · South East

Schools in Portsmouth

  • 61State-funded schools
  • 45Primary
  • 11Secondary
  • 5Special
  • South EastRegion
Applications per placeCircle size: applications
First choice · secondary 2026
83%
close to England (84%)
2,140 families applied
First choice · primary 2026
93%
close to England (92%)
1,887 families applied
Applications per place · secondary
2.1
close to England median (2.2)
Median school
New Ofsted report cards
15of 61 schools
Results by area

How hard is it to get a place here?

DfE · families living in Portsmouth
Secondary (Year 7) · Sept 2026
83%got their first choice
close to England (84%)

2,140 applicants · 3.9% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 83%; England 84%
  2. 2025 76%; England 84%
  3. 2024 81%; England 83%
  4. 2023 87%; England 83%
  5. 2022 86%; England 83%
  6. 2021 89%; England 81%
  7. 2020 91%; England 82%
  8. 2019 88%; England 81%
  9. 2018 90%; England 82%
  10. 2017 96%; England 83%
  11. 2016 87%; England 84%
  12. 2015 87%; England 84%
  13. 2014 93%; England 85%
  • Portsmouth
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20262,14083.4%95.0%3.9%
Sep 20252,18575.7%92.5%6.8%
Sep 20242,20681.1%93.8%5.8%
Sep 20232,11187.4%97.0%2.8%
Sep 20222,07186.0%95.2%4.6%
Sep 20212,09288.8%96.6%3.3%
Sep 20202,09990.8%98.1%1.8%
Sep 20192,17287.7%97.1%2.9%
Sep 20182,08489.8%98.0%2.0%
Sep 20171,93295.8%99.2%0.8%
Sep 20161,89887.4%95.7%4.3%
Sep 20151,82586.5%94.2%5.8%
Sep 20141,67093.3%98.4%1.6%
Primary (Reception) · Sept 2026
93%got their first choice
close to England (92%)

1,887 applicants · 1.3% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 93%; England 92%
  2. 2025 92%; England 93%
  3. 2024 91%; England 93%
  4. 2023 94%; England 92%
  5. 2022 94%; England 92%
  6. 2021 94%; England 92%
  7. 2020 88%; England 90%
  8. 2019 87%; England 91%
  9. 2018 89%; England 91%
  10. 2017 84%; England 90%
  11. 2016 85%; England 88%
  12. 2015 87%; England 88%
  13. 2014 85%; England 88%
  • Portsmouth
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20261,88793.0%98.6%1.3%
Sep 20251,98491.9%98.3%1.7%
Sep 20242,16890.6%98.0%2.0%
Sep 20232,02794.5%99.4%0.6%
Sep 20222,08294.3%98.8%1.2%
Sep 20212,01593.7%98.7%1.3%
Sep 20202,30487.5%97.1%2.3%
Sep 20192,38986.6%97.4%2.2%
Sep 20182,33589.0%97.3%1.9%
Sep 20172,47584.0%95.5%3.8%
Sep 20162,42585.3%95.2%4.1%
Sep 20152,32987.2%96.0%3.6%
Sep 20142,37885.0%95.0%5.0%

What has Ofsted found here?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report cards 15 schools of 61 · since November 2025

  • Inclusion
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Achievement
  • Attendance and behaviour
  • Personal development and wellbeing
  • Early years (8)
  • Post-16 provision (2)
  • Leadership and governance

One dot per school.

Overall grade from Ofsted's previous framework 35 schools · graded 2010 to 2024

  • Outstanding2
  • Good31
  • Requires improvement1
  • Inadequate1

Includes grades confirmed by a later ungraded inspection. Not comparable with report cards.

Graded 2024/25, no overall grade 11 schools

Key judgementOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of education–101–
Behaviour and attitudes191–
Personal development47––
Leadership and management–101–

Latest report cards

Every new report card, month by month · RSS for Portsmouth

Secondary schools in Portsmouth

11 schools · Year 7 entry 2026

Change the order (visual only)

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sorted by Attainment 8, highest first.

Sorted by the date of the latest Ofsted inspection, newest first.

Sorted by name.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeAttainment 8FSM
Mayfield School Serious weaknesses Inadequate2022 3.8 applications per place 31.1 36%
Admiral Lord Nelson School 2026 3.2 applications per place 41.5 28%
St Edmund's Catholic School Faith Remains Outstanding2022 2.9 applications per place 56.0 28%
Trafalgar School Good2023 2.9 applications per place 40.1 42%
Priory School Good2022 2.8 applications per place 43.4 35%
Ark Charter Academy Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 2.1 applications per place 39.9 66%
Miltoncross Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 2.0 applications per place 35.8 47%
The Portsmouth Academy Remains Good2022 1.9 applications per place 34.5 56%
Springfield School Graded · no overall grade2025 1.8 applications per place 42.4 31%
Castle View Academy 2026 1.6 applications per place 39.2 58%
UTC Portsmouth 2025 no data 48.8 20%

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Primary schools in Portsmouth

45 schools · Reception entry 2026

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeSATs standardFSM
Southsea Infant School 2026 5.3 applications per place – 17%
Westover Primary School Good2022 3.6 applications per place 66% 22%
St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School Faith Good2022 3.6 applications per place 83% 26%
Moorings Way Infant School 2026 3.4 applications per place – 17%
Bramble Infant School and Nursery Standards maintained2025 3.3 applications per place – 20%
Milton Park Primary School Good2024 3.1 applications per place 53% 41%
Gatcombe Park Primary School Good2023 3.0 applications per place 63% 27%
Wimborne Primary School Good2023 3.0 applications per place 51% 17%
Devonshire Infant School 2026 2.9 applications per place – 28%
Cumberland Infant School Good2022 2.8 applications per place – 13%
Ark Dickens Primary Academy Standards maintained2025 2.5 applications per place 67% 55%
Meon Infant School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.5 applications per place – 34%
Medina Primary School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.5 applications per place 58% 46%
Copnor Primary School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.4 applications per place 51% 26%
King's Academy College Park (Infant) Good2023 2.4 applications per place – 14%
Ark Ayrton Primary Academy Remains Good · improving2024 2.3 applications per place 78% 63%
Solent Infant School Improved significantly2025 2.3 applications per place – 10%
King's Academy Northern Parade (Infant) Graded · no overall grade2024 2.2 applications per place – 25%
Manor Infant and Nursery School Good2024 2.2 applications per place – 40%
St Swithun's Catholic Primary School Faith Standards maintained2025 2.2 applications per place 69% 18%
The Victory Primary School Graded · no overall grade2024 2.2 applications per place 63% 49%
Court Lane Infant Academy Remains Good2024 2.1 applications per place – 11%
Penbridge Infant School Remains Good2022 2.1 applications per place – 36%
Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery 2026 2.1 applications per place 35% 60%
The Flying Bull Academy 2026 2.0 applications per place 17% 57%
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School Faith Good2024 2.0 applications per place 57% 18%
Beacon View Primary Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 2.0 applications per place 41% 56%
New Horizons Primary School Good2023 2.0 applications per place 49% 35%
Langstone Primary Academy Remains Good2021 2.0 applications per place 58% 30%
Portsdown Primary School Good2024 1.9 applications per place 35% 53%
St Jude's CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good · concerns noted2024 1.9 applications per place 53% 29%
Highbury Primary School 2025 1.8 applications per place 63% 28%
Stamshaw Infant Academy Remains Good2023 1.8 applications per place – 29%
Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery Requires improvement2024 1.6 applications per place 53% 49%
St Paul's Catholic Primary School Faith Remains Good2023 1.6 applications per place 73% 42%
St George's Beneficial Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 1.4 applications per place 69% 61%
Court Lane Junior Academy Remains Good2024 no data 57% 22%
Craneswater Junior School 2026 no data 53% 27%
Fernhurst Junior School Remains Good2023 no data 55% 36%
King's Academy College Park (Junior) Graded · no overall grade2024 no data 52% 30%
King's Academy Northern Parade (Junior) Good2023 no data 48% 36%
Meon Junior School 2025 no data 65% 30%
Penbridge Junior School Remains Good2023 no data 54% 51%
Solent Junior School Standards maintained2025 no data 58% 13%
Stamshaw Junior School Good2023 no data 47% 47%

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

Special schools and other provision

5 schools