Atlantic Academy Portland
Portland, DT5 2NA · Dorset · all-through school
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19th of 19 secondary schools in Dorset we can score, 29 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.8/10 against 664 of them, against 0.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 9 | 35% | 0.30 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 26.6 · 10 | 30% | 0.29 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.74 · 7 | 25% | 0.18 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 37.7 · 11 | 10% | 0.11 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Atlantic Academy Portland overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 19.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.74 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 769 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,020. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the attainment gap with national medians? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the new Ofsted framework impact current teaching strategies?
What Ofsted said about Atlantic Academy Portland
Overview
The report presents a divided picture, with the primary phase performing at an "expected standard" while the secondary phase requires significant improvement. Primary pupils benefit from effective teaching and strong foundations, whereas secondary pupils face challenges in achievement and teaching quality. Leaders have begun addressing these issues, but the report notes that improvement efforts are "in their early stages" and have not yet yielded sufficient impact.
Strengths
- Primary pupils "behave well and come to school regularly," with staff applying behaviour policies effectively.
- Children in the early years "get off to a positive start," with a strong focus on language development and reading.
- Primary teaching is "effective," ensuring pupils secure foundations in reading, writing, and mathematics.
- Leaders "collaborate well with external partners" to support pupils known to social care.
- Pupils across the school have access to a "variety of opportunities" to develop talents, including sports, arts, and leadership roles.
Areas to improve
- Secondary pupils do not achieve well enough at key stage 4, with examination results "consistently below the national average."
- Teaching in the secondary phase does not adapt well enough for pupils with barriers to learning, leading to "inconsistencies" in support.
- The personal development programme in the secondary phase lacks impact, meaning some pupils do not fully understand why "differences between people should be respected and celebrated."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.9 |
| 2024/25 | 34.0 |
| 2025/26 | 37.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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