SchoolScoresThe Portsmouth Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
St Mary's Road, Portsmouth, PO1 5PF
03333 602200 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 April 2017.
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 | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 27 April 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
239 pupils in this year group.
21% — 15 points below the Portsmouth average, and 25 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 21% | 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. | 33.5 | 39.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3 | 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.
218 pupils in this year group.
85% — 3 points below the Portsmouth average, and 7 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. | 85% | 88% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 3% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 2% | 5% | 13% |
| Further education college | 75% | 72% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 85% |
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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 212 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 117 |
| Of those, offered a place | 117 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 409 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.5 · 2026: 0.6
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 16 places for moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Portsmouth | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 55.8% | 38.5%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.3% | 3.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 8% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 6.5% | 14.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 30.4% | 20.0%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 9% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.0% | 10.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 16% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 31.4% | 25.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 3% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 87.8 | 32.5 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Lower than 3% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 21.5% | 8.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils | 0.24% | 0.11% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 29% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.0 | 10.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in Portsmouth. Higher than 94% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 28.4% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Madani Academy 0.1 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- St Edmund's Catholic School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 71% grade 5+ English and maths
- Priory School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Miltoncross Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 27% grade 5+ English and maths
- Ark Charter Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mayfield School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2022, before conversion)
- Portsmouth High School GDST 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 43% A*/A at A level
- The Portsmouth Grammar School 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 61% A*/A at A level
- Admiral Lord Nelson School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mayville High School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Portsmouth Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Portsmouth Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 April 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 27 April 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Portsmouth Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 21% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 25 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Portsmouth Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 117 families put The Portsmouth Academy as their first choice for 212 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 117 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 139714.
- 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.