SchoolScoresSt Swithun's Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Taswell Road, Southsea, PO5 2RG
023 9282 9339 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 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 | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 26 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
80 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Southsea comparisons use the 5 of its 10 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 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 | Southsea | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southsea. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southsea. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southsea. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 23 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southsea. Higher than 91% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 70% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 51 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southsea. Higher than 95% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 85% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southsea. Higher than 87% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 23%). 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. Southsea figures pool parents at the Southsea 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
45 pupils in this year group.
69% — 15 points above the Portsmouth average, and 7 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 69% | 54% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 87% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 76% | 66% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 45 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 55 |
| Of those, offered a place | 44 (80%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 98 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.5 · 2025: 1.2 · 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.
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 8th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.2% | 34.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.0% | 4.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.9% | 14.1%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 47.2% | 24.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Lower than 67% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Lower than 59% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.3% | 12.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Higher than 86% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.1 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Higher than 33% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.8 | 9.7 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 6th highest of 10 state primary schools in Southsea. Higher than 41% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.2% | 14.3%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools
- Southsea Infant School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention
- Craneswater Junior School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bramble Infant School and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Devonshire Infant School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- Fernhurst Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cumberland Infant School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Ark Ayrton Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed, may be improving 2024 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wimborne Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Jude's CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Swithun's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Swithun's Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 February 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 26 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Swithun's Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 69% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Swithun's Catholic Primary School?
99% of the 80 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Swithun's Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Swithun's Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 55 families put St Swithun's Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 45 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 44 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 116386.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.