UTC Portsmouth
82%
Capacity
493
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About UTC Portsmouth
UTC Portsmouth sits in the Portsmouth local authority, one of three schools in the area rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Among the eight secondary schools in the LA ranked by Progress 8, it comes fifth, placing it in the bottom half locally. Its top-performing peers include St Edmund's Catholic School, Trafalgar School, and Ark Charter Academy, all of which score higher on this measure. The school serves a distinctive niche: it is a university technical college for students aged 14 to 19, meaning it takes pupils at the start of Key Stage 4 rather than Year 7. With 493 pupils against a capacity of 600, it is not oversubscribed, and 19.3 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Mayfield School, just one kilometre away, so families in Portsmouth have strong alternatives nearby.
Academically, UTC Portsmouth presents a mixed picture. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 awarded Outstanding across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, sixth-form provision, and leadership. This was a dramatic turnaround from the previous inspection in 2020, when the school was rated Inadequate overall. At Key Stage 4, the school's Progress 8 score is -0.47, which is below both the Portsmouth LA average of -0.31 and the national average of zero. Attainment 8 sits at 49.2, and 82.3 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though only 57.3 per cent reached grade 5 or above. No pupils entered the EBacc. At A-level, the school's value-added score is -0.58, placing it in the below-average band, with an average points per entry of 26.15, equivalent to a C- grade.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, science labs, sports hall, theatre, astro turf, gymnasium, and a sixth-form centre. Sports provision includes athletics, rowing, swimming, and cricket, while extracurricular options cover the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Young Enterprise, Model UN, and coding club. SEND support is available for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing impairment, physical disability, and social, emotional and mental health needs. UTC Portsmouth is a non-denominational, non-boarding state school with no nursery provision. It will suit families looking for a specialist technical education pathway from age 14, particularly those who value the smaller, focused environment of a UTC and are comfortable with a school that has shown it can improve rapidly, even if current exam results lag behind local averages.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 14 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | London Road, Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO2 9DU |
| Headteacher | James Doherty |
| Local Authority | Portsmouth |
| Number of Pupils | 493 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.3% |
| School Capacity | 493 / 600 (82% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Jun 2021Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Jul 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.47)
2570th of 3,141
Nationally
371st of 461
In South East
5th 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
33.5
'22/23
29.2
'23/24
26.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2340%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 97 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
17%
Russell Group
19%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)40%
- Employment25%
- Apprenticeship15%
- Not sustained11%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
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.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British51.1%
- White (other)4.7%
- Asian3.6%
- Mixed1.4%
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.
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.
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 UTC Portsmouth
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
London Road, Portsmouth
Portsmouth, PO2 9DU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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