St Swithun's Catholic Primary School
Southsea, PO5 2RG · Portsmouth · primary school
Check the area around this school
6th of 32 primary schools in Portsmouth we can score, 45 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 — 4.5/10 against 3,846 of them, against 4.8/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 69.0 · 63 | 40% | 2.51 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 2.0 · 24 | 25% | 0.59 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Swithun's Catholic Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 69.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The proportion reaching the higher standard was 2.0%, against a national median of 7%. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (4.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.8 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2025.
Getting in
The published school roll is 351 pupils against a stated capacity of 351. 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
With the roll matching capacity exactly, how does the school manage waiting lists for specific entry years? Since the higher standard attainment is 2.0% compared to the national 7%, what specific interventions are used to support pupils aiming for that level? How does the recent Good inspection influence current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about St Swithun's Catholic Primary School
Overview
St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “happy and welcoming school” where pupils “thrive” and demonstrate “exceptionally well” behaviour. Leaders have successfully preserved the high-quality education previously judged as good, ensuring pupils are “well prepared for the next stage of education.”
Strengths
- Pupils show “consistently high levels of respect” and live out the school’s mission to “love one another.”
- The curriculum is “ambitious, broad and balanced,” with clear knowledge goals and strong links to the local context.
- Staff have “high expectations” and provide “high-quality interactions,” fostering pupil independence and resilience.
- Reading provision is strong, with staff well-trained to help children learn sounds from the start and support those needing help to “catch up.”
- There is a “well-established pastoral system” and robust support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Areas to improve
- Teachers do not consistently use information from checking pupils’ understanding to “adapt activities or to structure future learning,” meaning some pupils are “not always learning as well as they could be.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 64% |
| 2023/24 | 67% |
| 2024/25 | 69% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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