UTC Portsmouth

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 18 November 2025

The school makes a significantly positive contribution to pupils' lives. Staff and leaders instil very high aspirations quickly in all pupils when they join, either in Year 10 or Year 12. The school's tangible culture of respect, ambition and high levels of commitment is built on pupils' very positive relationships with each other and with staff. The school's central focus is, rightly, on ensuring that pupils secure high-quality training, education and employment in the future when they leave the school. There is an ethos of professionalism that prepares pupils very effectively for their subsequent education and careers. Pupils gain the skills, knowledge and personal traits to enable them to flourish. One pupil, reflective of many, said, 'The whole place is geared towards helping us to succeed and go on to realise our dreams.' Pupils' personal development is superb. Pupils are extremely engaged in their learning and are very motivated. They rightly recognise and value the high-quality provision that the school makes for them. Pupils develop independence. They are mature young people focused on achieving highly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Pupils make a significant contribution to school life. They enjoy the very wide range of excellent enrichment activities that extend and really deepen their experiences and learning. Leaders' and staff's expectations of pupils are high, both in terms of behaviour and their achievement. Pupils rise to these expectations admirably. Barriers to learning are expertly reduced so that pupils progress very well through the curriculum. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils thrive. Pupils feel safe and trust adults with any concerns or worries that they might have, knowing that staff will address these effectively and swiftly. Any unkindness is incredibly rare. Staff support pupils' wellbeing fully. Pupils want to be in school and attend regularly. They are incredibly proud to be members of the school.

What the school should improve

• Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards. They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged pupils, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known (or previously known) to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)