SchoolScoresSt Edmund's Catholic School
Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Arundel Street, Portsmouth, PO1 1RX
023 9282 3766 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 2 February 2016.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Outcomes for pupils | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 June 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Portsmouth comparisons use the 3 of its 9 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 6 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 98% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 95% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 96% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 97% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 92% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 89% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 12 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 100% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 84% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Portsmouth. Higher than 95% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 95% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 1%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Portsmouth figures pool parents at the Portsmouth schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
223 pupils in this year group.
71% — 36 points above the Portsmouth average, and 26 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 71% | 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. | 58.9 | 39.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 5.4 | 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.
201 pupils in this year group.
90% — 2 points above the Portsmouth average, and 2 points below 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. | 90% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 3% | 3% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 27% | 5% | 13% |
| Further education college | 55% | 72% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | Not published | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 90% |
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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 238 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 416 |
| Of those, offered a place | 234 (56%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 700 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.8 · 2025: 1.8 · 2026: 1.7
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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 28.3% | 38.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 42% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.6% | 3.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.1% | 14.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 46.5% | 20.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 97% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.4% | 10.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 98% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.5% | 25.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.9 | 32.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 95% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.1% | 8.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.11% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 5th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 1% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 3.0% | 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
- Ark Charter Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Priory School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Madani Academy 0.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- The Portsmouth Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 21% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Portsmouth Grammar School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 61% A*/A at A level
- Portsmouth High School GDST 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 43% A*/A at A level
- Miltoncross Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 27% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mayville High School 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Mayfield School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion)
- Admiral Lord Nelson School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Edmund's Catholic School's Ofsted rating?
St Edmund's Catholic School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 June 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Outstanding.
How did St Edmund's Catholic School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 26 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend St Edmund's Catholic School?
100% of the 14 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St Edmund's Catholic School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Edmund's Catholic School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 416 families put St Edmund's Catholic School as their first choice for 238 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 234 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 116505.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 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.