Classpot

Portchester Community School

Fareham, PO16 9BDSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2024
Progress 8
-0.28
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
102 1st-choice / 106 places
Ranking
#2,184
of 3,141 nationally

About Portchester Community School

Portchester Community School is a mixed secondary for 11 to 16 year olds in Fareham, and its intake tells a clear story about the community it serves. With 692 pupils on roll against a capacity of 860, the school is operating well below its maximum, leaving room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 27.9%, which is significantly higher than the national average of around 23% and suggests the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. Demand is strong despite the spare capacity: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 194 applications for 106 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.83. Of those, 102 were first-preference applications, and all 102 received offers, meaning every family who put Portchester first got a place. This combination of high FSM and strong first-preference demand points to a school that is both inclusive and locally trusted.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressWhite Hart Lane, Fareham, Fareham, PO16 9BD
HeadteacherRichard Carlyle
Local AuthorityHampshire
Number of Pupils692
Free School Meals (FSM)27.9%
School Capacity692 / 860 (80% 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

30 Jan 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 6 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Swimming PoolScience LabsSports HallLibraryArt StudiosGymnasiumAstro TurfICT SuiteSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

BasketballBadmintonAthleticsRugbyFootballGymnasticsMartial ArtsRowingCross Country

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDebateDramaChoirChessDuke of EdinburghModel United NationsOrchestraYoung EnterpriseNewspaper

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionMulti-SensoryOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Portchester Community School

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