Portal House School
Sea Street, St Margaret's-At-Cliffe, Dover, CT15 6SSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Portal House School is a special school in Dover for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 692 schools in Kent. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2015.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 4 June 2015, report published 14 July 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 January 2025
Pupils enjoy coming to this well-organised and friendly school. Though many have been out of education for long periods of time or had poor experiences in previous settings, most settle quickly on arrival. When pupils struggle to attend for whatever reason, everybody works tirelessly to find the right solution, including through the use of an impressive online learning programme. Expectations of behaviour and academic success are high at Portal House. Staff strive for pupils to be successful in all they do. A key feature of the school is an overt drive to motivate and build pupils' confidence and resilience. As a result, they display positive attitudes to their studies and achieve increasingly well over time. Pupils feel safe here, including feeling that they are safe to make mistakes. They know that staff are there for them when things get tough, or anxieties build. This ethos was summed up particularly eloquently by one older pupil. His view that, 'The creative liberty in the way we work is a bonus, because there is not an insanely strict mandate in lessons, just as long as we do not disturb other pupils' learning', describes the school's positive learning culture well.
What the school should improve
- In some lessons, teachers do not design learning that supports pupils' needs well enough. When this is the case, some pupils are less confident in completing the tasks that teachers have set, and their learning slows. Leaders are aware of this. The school should continue to develop the knowledge and expertise of staff to design learning opportunities that more closely meet the needs of all pupils.
- Pupils' rates of absence are too high. The school is aware that some pupils are missing important learning and development opportunities. Work in this area is beginning to have a positive impact. However, the school needs to redouble its efforts to improve attendance, so that all pupils fully benefit from the excellent curriculum the school offers.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
20 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
80 pupils on roll, with places for 80
Schools near Portal House School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learning Opportunities Centre Secondary | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 9.7 |
| Ripplevale School | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 12.3 |
| The Sallygate School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Elms School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 4.8 |
| Brewood Secondary School | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 2.8 |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Boys
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rosemary Bradley
- Phone
- 01304853033
- Address
- Sea Street, St Margaret's-At-Cliffe, Dover, CT15 6SS
- Local authority
- Kent
- URN
- 119062
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.