Trafalgar School
104%
Capacity
1,041
Pupils
3.5x
Demand
About Trafalgar School
Trafalgar School sits within the Portsmouth local authority, where it ranks second out of eight mainstream secondary schools by Progress 8 score, placing it in the top quarter of its local peers. The school's Progress 8 score of -0.19 is notably above the Portsmouth average of -0.31, and it outperforms the two schools directly below it in the local rankings: Ark Charter Academy at -0.32 and Admiral Lord Nelson School at -0.35. The top-performing school in the area is St Edmund's Catholic School, with a score of 0.66. Trafalgar is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 269 first-preference applications for 199 places, and 698 total applications overall, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.51. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, rated it Good overall, with a standout Outstanding grade for personal development.
Academically, Trafalgar's Progress 8 score of -0.19 is classified as Average nationally, and it sits in the bottom 50% of schools overall. Its Attainment 8 score is 37.8, and 46.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, compared to 22.9% achieving a grade 5 or above. The English Baccalaureate average point score is 3.2, with 36.9% of pupils entering the EBacc and 15.6% achieving it at grade 4 or above. Broken down by subject, Progress 8 is strongest in the Open element (0.01) and weakest in EBacc subjects (-0.39) and maths (-0.34). The school's Ofsted report highlights that behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and quality of education are all Good, while personal development is Outstanding. The previous inspection in 2018 also rated the school Good overall, so the current rating represents sustained performance rather than a change in direction.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a theatre, and a sports hall, with sports on offer including rowing, netball, hockey, and martial arts. Clubs cover drama, debate, eco club, and choir, among others. Trafalgar has an extensive SEND provision list, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder, as well as a resourced provision. With 37.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage. Given its strong local reputation, oversubscription, and broad SEND support, Trafalgar is a solid choice for Portsmouth families seeking a Good-rated secondary that offers strong personal development and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, particularly for pupils who may benefit from additional support.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | London Road, Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO2 9RJ |
| Headteacher | Claire Copeland |
| Local Authority | Portsmouth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,041 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 37.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,041 / 1,000 (104% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 23 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.19)
1994th of 3,141
Nationally
303rd of 461
In South East
2nd 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2380%
of GCSE leavers continue at FE college (cohort: 157 pupils).
- FE college80%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment4%
89% 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
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed199
698
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
269 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: trafalgarschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British79.1%
- Mixed5.8%
- White (other)4.5%
- Asian4.3%
- Black0.3%
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.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
13
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
9
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 Trafalgar 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
London Road, Portsmouth
Portsmouth, PO2 9RJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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