Atlantic Academy Portland
73%
Capacity
748
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About Atlantic Academy Portland
Just over a fifth of parents who applied for a place at Atlantic Academy Portland for the 2025/26 academic year did not get their first choice, with the school receiving 87 applications for 72 places. That oversubscription ratio of 1.21 suggests a solid local reputation, though it is not among the most fiercely contested secondaries in Dorset. The school is a mixed, all-through state academy for pupils aged 4 to 16, with a capacity of 1,020 but currently home to 748 students, so there is room to grow. Headteacher Melissa Heppell leads a school that has undergone a significant turnaround since its last graded inspection in 2022, when Ofsted rated it Good across the board, including for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. That is a marked improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was judged Inadequate overall.
Academically, the picture is more mixed. In the 2023/24 exam results, Atlantic Academy Portland’s Progress 8 score was -0.74, which is well below the national average and also below the Dorset local authority average of -0.09. The school ranks 20th out of 20 secondary schools in the county on this measure, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 38.9 is modest, and only 24.4 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 50 per cent at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 37.8 per cent, with 11.1 per cent achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. The school’s EBacc average point score is 3.46. These figures reflect a cohort where 33.8 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, which may partly explain the lower outcomes.
On the practical side, Atlantic Academy Portland offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, tennis courts, astro turf, music rooms, and a sixth form centre, despite the school only going up to age 16. There is a strong extracurricular offer, with clubs covering everything from chess and debating to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and an orchestra. Sports include rowing, gymnastics, rugby, and athletics. The school’s SEND provision is extensive, covering ten categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. For families considering this school, the key trade-off is clear: it is a welcoming, improving school with good pastoral ratings and strong facilities, but its academic outcomes are currently among the lowest in Dorset, so parents whose priority is high exam performance may want to look at local peers like The Purbeck School or Lytchett Minster School.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Maritime House, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2NA |
| Headteacher | Melissa Heppell |
| Local Authority | Dorset |
| Number of Pupils | 748 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.8% |
| School Capacity | 748 / 1,020 (73% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Jan 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.74)
2882nd of 3,141
Nationally
289th of 306
In South West
20th of 20
In Dorset
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2314%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 84 pupils).
- FE college58%
- School sixth form (stay)14%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment5%
- Sixth form college1%
88% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed72
87
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
69 families put this school as their 1st choice (79% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.0%
- White (other)6.0%
- Mixed1.4%
- Asian0.4%
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.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
0
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 Atlantic Academy Portland
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
Maritime House, Portland
Dorset, DT5 2NA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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