Trafalgar School

  • Secondary
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 16
Ofsted: Good

London Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth, PO2 9RJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Trafalgar School is a secondary school in Portsmouth for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 65 schools in Portsmouth. It ranks 3rd of 8 secondary schools in Portsmouth. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 6 June 2023, report published 23 October 2023

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 June 2023

Pupils thrive and feel safe in this highly inclusive school. Staff ensure that pupils receive the precise help they need. Relationships are highly positive because staff take time to understand and remove barriers to pupils' learning. Pupils openly share how they are overcoming challenges in the nurturing 'Relational Practice Community Circles' they have twice a week. They take pride in each other's successes and take great care to not 'harm the community' feel of the school through unkind behaviour. Sanctions for poor behaviour are uncommon because pupils do their best to comply with the high expectations of staff. Pupils are provided with the appropriate help they need. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) who attend the 'Autism Resource Centre' (ARC) receive effective help to access learning alongside their peers. Staff are expert at delivering this. Pupils who need help to manage their mental health needs learn to do this through bespoke interventions on self-esteem in the 'Compass Centre'. Additional interventions in the 'Lighthouse' help pupils to catch up with their reading and mathematics. Inclusive practice threads through all aspects of leaders' work to make sure all pupils have the opportunity to succeed.

What the school should improve

  • Not all teachers ensure that pupils explore concepts in sufficient depth and detail. As a result, some pupils do not develop a secure grasp of new learning, making it harder to connect ideas together. Leaders should continue to embed the school's identified teaching strategies to help pupils securely learn and remember the identified ambitious knowledge within the curriculum.
  • Not all pupils are attending school as well as they should following the COVID-19 pandemic. This puts them at risk of falling behind in their education. Leaders must continue to sharpen the efficacy of their plans to improve attendance.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

170 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score43.5

43.5, 2.6 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37.6%

37.6%, 7.8 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths64.7%

64.7%, 0.1 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc47.1%

47.1%, 6.6 percentage points above the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.86

3.86, 0.23 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,031 pupils on roll, with places for 1,000

Eligible for free school meals41.6%

41.6%, 15.1 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language13%

13%, 8.6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support23.3%

23.3%, 8.5 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5.5%

5.5%, 0.5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Trafalgar School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
UTC Portsmouth0.1 milesReport card: Strong standard to exceptionalAttainment 8: 48.3
Mayfield School0.6 milesOfsted: InadequateNot published
Admiral Lord Nelson School1 mileReport card: Expected standardAttainment 8: 40.4
Springfield School1 mileOfsted judgements: GoodAttainment 8: 39.8
Madani Academy2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
THE SALTERNS ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
11 to 16
Gender
Mixed
Sixth form
No
Headteacher
Mrs Gemma Pearse
Address
London Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth, PO2 9RJ
Local authority
Portsmouth
URN
141875

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.