Voluntary aided school · Portsmouth

St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School

3–11Ages
237Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
116385URN

Cottage View, Landport, Portsmouth, PO1 1PX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.6per place

1.4 above Portsmouth median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Portsmouth

108 applications for 30 places · 3rd of 36 in Portsmouth

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

83%met the expected standard

Portsmouth 55% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 12 July 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.6applications per place, Reception

1.4 above Portsmouth median (2.2) 1.4 above England median (2.2)

108 applications · 30 places offered · 47 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 3.6; Portsmouth median median 2.2
2025 3.3; Portsmouth median median 2.3
2024 3.8; Portsmouth median median 1.8
2023 3.0; Portsmouth median median 1.8
2022 3.3; Portsmouth median median 1.8
2021 3.4; Portsmouth median median 1.8
2020 3.4; Portsmouth median median 2.2
2019 3.4; Portsmouth median median 2.3
2018 3.8; Portsmouth median median 2.5
2017 4.6; Portsmouth median median 2.4
2016 4.3; Portsmouth median median 2.5
2015 4.4; Portsmouth median median 2.1
2014 4.4; Portsmouth median median 2.3

More applications per place than the Portsmouth median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Portsmouth median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	30	108	3.6	47	1.57
Sep 2025	30	98	3.3	48	1.60
Sep 2024	29	110	3.8	63	2.17
Sep 2023	30	91	3.0	40	1.33
Sep 2022	30	100	3.3	56	1.87
Sep 2021	30	101	3.4	47	1.57
Sep 2020	30	101	3.4	47	1.57
Sep 2019	30	102	3.4	60	2.00
Sep 2018	29	109	3.8	48	1.66
Sep 2017	30	137	4.6	67	2.23
Sep 2016	30	128	4.3	55	1.83
Sep 2015	30	132	4.4	51	1.70
Sep 2014	30	133	4.4	60	2.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 93% · Writing 83% · Maths 87% → all three 83% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard83%1st of 32 in Portsmouth

Portsmouth 55% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard93%

Portsmouth 73% England 78%

Higher standard37%

Portsmouth 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard83%

Portsmouth 69% England 75%

Greater depth13%

Portsmouth 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard87%

Portsmouth 69% England 77%

Higher standard33%

Portsmouth 17% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Portsmouth median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	83%	13%	107	107
2023/24	70%	7%	106	105
2022/23	77%	7%	107	105

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

3.6applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery
0.2 km · Portsmouth

2026

2.1applications per place 35%met the SATs standard
Ark Ayrton Primary Academy
0.4 km · Portsmouth

Remains Good · improving2024

2.3applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
Penbridge Infant School
0.6 km · Portsmouth

Remains Good2022

2.1applications per place
Ark Dickens Primary Academy
0.6 km · Portsmouth

Standards maintained2025

2.5applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Manor Infant and Nursery School
1.0 km · Portsmouth

Good2024

2.2applications per place
Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery
1.0 km · Portsmouth

Requires improvement2024

1.6applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Bramble Infant School and Nursery
1.0 km · Portsmouth

Standards maintained2025

3.3applications per place
Fernhurst Junior School
1.1 km · Portsmouth

Remains Good2023

55%met the SATs standard

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.

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 116385 · 851/3422
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 210 pupils · 237 on roll
Free school meals: 26.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Cottage View, Landport, Portsmouth, PO1 1PX
Local authority: Portsmouth

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources