SchoolScoresAdmiral Lord Nelson School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE SALTERNS ACADEMY TRUST
Dundas Lane, Portsmouth, PO3 5XT
023 9236 4536 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 8 July 2026.
In short: 6 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets 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. | 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.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
241 pupils in this year group.
34% — 1 points below the Portsmouth average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 34% | 35% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 40.4 | 39.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.8 | 3.5 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
212 pupils in this year group.
91% — 3 points above the Portsmouth average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 91% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 3% | 3% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 1% | 5% | 13% |
| Further education college | 81% | 72% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 91% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 248 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 288 |
| Of those, offered a place | 233 (81%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 792 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.4 · 2026: 1.2
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 51% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 27.4% | 38.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 47% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.8% | 3.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 61% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3% | 14.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.5% | 20.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 50% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.3% | 10.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 64% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.5% | 25.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 86% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0 | 32.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 4th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 83% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 8.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.11% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 35% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.1 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.8 | 10.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 46% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5% | 14.6%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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 secondary schools
- Mayfield School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion)
- Trafalgar School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- UTC Portsmouth 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 1 exceptional, 6 strong · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Miltoncross Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 27% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Portsmouth Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 21% grade 5+ English and maths
- Madani Academy 1.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Springfield School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Priory School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Edmund's Catholic School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 71% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ark Charter Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Admiral Lord Nelson School's Ofsted rating?
Admiral Lord Nelson School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Admiral Lord Nelson School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 34% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 11 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Admiral Lord Nelson School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 288 families put Admiral Lord Nelson School as their first choice for 248 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 233 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 140697.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.