The Flying Bull Academy

About The Flying Bull Academy

The Flying Bull Academy is a popular choice among Portsmouth families, with 40 out of 41 first-preference applicants offered a place for the 2025/26 academic year. The school received 85 applications for just 43 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.98, meaning nearly two families applied for every spot. This level of demand suggests strong local confidence in the school, though it is worth noting that the school does not publish a parent-view survey score, so direct feedback from current families is not available in the data. The school is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site, and is led by headteacher Grace Brown. It has a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has held consistently across its two most recent inspections, including an ungraded visit in July 2022 that confirmed the school remains Good.

Academically, the school's Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show that 41% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. This is below the Portsmouth local authority average of 53%, placing the school 26th out of 32 primary schools in the area. Individual subject scores are more mixed: 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, with an average score of 104, while 57% did so in maths (average score 101) and 54% in writing. At the higher standard, 23% achieved in reading, 13% in maths, and none in writing or the combined measure. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% of all primary schools for the combined expected standard, sitting at the 90th percentile from the bottom. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is unclear how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, forest school, outdoor playground, ICT suite, playing fields and a chapel. Sports provision covers cricket, football, dance, cross country and rounders, while clubs include gardening, chess, drama, eco club and art club. For pupils with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 54.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage. This is a school that suits families who value a strong local reputation and a wide range of enrichment activities, but who are comfortable with academic outcomes that sit below the local average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The Flying Bull Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents