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Gatcombe Park Primary School

Portsmouth, PO2 0URPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2023
KS2 Results
47%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
36 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
#11,355
of 13,686 nationally

About Gatcombe Park Primary School

Gatcombe Park Primary School is a mixed state primary for children aged 4 to 11 in Portsmouth, currently led by headteacher Ben Simpson. With 208 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is running very close to full, and the demand is clear: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 97 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.23. Of those, 36 families put it as their first preference, and all 30 first-preference offers were taken up. The school’s intake reflects a notably higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 26.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national primary average of around 23-24% in recent years. This is a school that serves its local community well, drawing families who value a non-religious, inclusive setting.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSt Barbara Way, Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO2 0UR
HeadteacherBen Simpson
Local AuthorityPortsmouth
Number of Pupils208
Free School Meals (FSM)26.4%
School Capacity208 / 210 (99% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

16 May 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 10 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Sports HallICT SuiteArt StudiosSensory RoomPlaying FieldsLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

FootballDanceCricketSwimmingAthletics

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChessFilm ClubChoirCoding

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gatcombe Park Primary School

Gatcombe Park Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.