Admiral Lord Nelson School
100%
Capacity
1,244
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Admiral Lord Nelson School
Admiral Lord Nelson School, a mixed state secondary in Portsmouth for pupils aged 11 to 16, holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent inspections. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.35, which the Department for Education bands as 'Below average'. This means that, on average, pupils leaving the school achieve about a third of a grade less per subject than students with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks 4th out of 8 secondary schools in the Portsmouth local authority on this measure, placing it in the bottom half of its local peers. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 41.3, and just over a third of pupils (36.3%) achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. The school's EBacc average point score is 3.85, with 71.2% of pupils entering the EBacc suite of qualifications, though only 17.7% achieved a grade 5 or above in that combination.
Compared with the Portsmouth local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.31, Admiral Lord Nelson School's figure of -0.35 is slightly below the local norm. The school's own breakdown shows that progress is weakest in open subjects (Progress 8 score of -0.52) and strongest in maths (-0.19), though all subject areas are negative. In its most recent graded inspection in 2017, Ofsted rated both leadership and management, and overall effectiveness, as Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school 'remains Good'. The school has a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 26.7%, which may be a relevant factor when considering its outcomes. It does not have a sixth form, so all pupils leave at 16.
The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 748 applications for 249 places, with 341 of those as first preferences. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 3:1, suggesting strong local demand. Facilities include a theatre, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a library, and the school offers a broad range of sports from rowing to martial arts, plus clubs such as orchestra, coding, and eco club. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering ten categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disability. For families prioritising a large, inclusive secondary with a wide co-curricular offer and a Good Ofsted rating, Admiral Lord Nelson School is clearly a popular choice in Portsmouth, though its academic outcomes are below the national average and slightly below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Dundas Lane, Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO3 5XT |
| Headteacher | Christopher Doherty |
| Local Authority | Portsmouth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,244 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,244 / 1,250 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (29 Jun 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 31 Mar 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.35)
2351st of 3,141
Nationally
340th of 461
In South East
4th of 8
In Portsmouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed249
748
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
341 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.3%
- Asian4.9%
- Mixed4.5%
- White (other)4.0%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
8
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
6
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Admiral Lord Nelson School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Dundas Lane, Portsmouth
Portsmouth, PO3 5XT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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