Education in Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s GCSE English and maths result is below England’s
34.1% reached grade 5 in both subjects in 2025/26—12.2 percentage points below England. Explore primary results, GCSEs and the disadvantage gap; the latest results are provisional.
GCSE English and maths
- Portsmouth34.1%
- Southampton35.6%
- Chichester district46.7%
- England46.3%
Grade 5 is a strong pass. The figures compare pupils attending schools in each area, rather than everyone living there. Chichester is the whole district. Pupil intakes, additional needs and deprivation affect results; these figures do not isolate the effect of a school.
GCSE English and maths: grade 5 or above
2018/19 to 2025/26
Portsmouth · %
Reviewed figures: 2018/19 to 2025/26.
Shown on this chart: From 2018/19 to 2025/26, GCSE English and maths: grade 5 or above fell by 0.9 percentage points in Portsmouth and rose by 3.1 percentage points in England.
Both places compared over 2018/19 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.
Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.
Actual values
Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.
Hover or tap the chart for a value. Use the date slider with touch or arrow keys. Escape closes the chart label.
Pupils at the end of key stage 4 in state-funded schools, by school location. Latest 2025/26 figures are provisional. Grade 5 is a strong pass; this is not a measure of progress.
Source, full data and definitions
Department for Education dataset ↗ · downloaded 2026-11-02. Latest year: provisional.
The table retains published values for 2020 and 2021 where available; GCSE lines leave gaps because grades were assessed rather than awarded through the usual exams. No 30-year local trend is claimed.
| Period | Portsmouth | Southampton | Chichester district | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | 35 | 35.7 | 38.6 | 43.2 |
| 2019/20 (assessed grades) | 43.3 | 40.8 | 45.9 | 49.9 |
| 2020/21 (assessed grades) | 46 | 41.9 | 47.8 | 51.9 |
| 2021/22 | 41.3 | 42.1 | 41.3 | 49.8 |
| 2022/23 | 31.6 | 38.1 | 39.6 | 45.3 |
| 2023/24 | 34.4 | 38.3 | 38.2 | 45.9 |
| 2024/25 | 35.2 | 38.9 | 41.9 | 45.4 |
| 2025/26 | 34.1 | 35.6 | 46.7 | 46.3 |
Across a wider set of qualifications
Attainment 8 summarises results across eight approved qualifications. It is a points score, rather than a percentage or a measure of progress.
Average Attainment 8 score
2018/19 to 2025/26
Portsmouth · points
Reviewed figures: 2018/19 to 2025/26.
Shown on this chart: From 2018/19 to 2025/26, average Attainment 8 score fell by 3.7% in Portsmouth and fell by 1.1% in England.
Both places compared over 2018/19 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.
Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.
Actual values
Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.
Hover or tap the chart for a value. Use the date slider with touch or arrow keys. Escape closes the chart label.
Average points across eight approved qualifications, with English and maths double weighted. School location; latest 2025/26 figures are provisional. Cohort and grading changes affect comparisons.
Source, full data and definitions
Department for Education dataset ↗ · downloaded 2026-11-02. Latest year: provisional.
The table retains published values for 2020 and 2021 where available; GCSE lines leave gaps because grades were assessed rather than awarded through the usual exams. No 30-year local trend is claimed.
| Period | Portsmouth | Southampton | Chichester district | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | 40.8 | 44.2 | 44.3 | 46.7 |
| 2019/20 (assessed grades) | 45.7 | 46.5 | 47.3 | 50.2 |
| 2020/21 (assessed grades) | 46.3 | 46.3 | 49 | 50.9 |
| 2021/22 | 43.4 | 46.1 | 45.7 | 48.8 |
| 2022/23 | 38.4 | 42.9 | 43 | 46.3 |
| 2023/24 | 39.5 | 41.3 | 43.6 | 45.9 |
| 2024/25 | 39.5 | 41.9 | 42.7 | 46.1 |
| 2025/26 | 39.3 | 40.2 | 44 | 46.2 |
Progress 8 is unavailable for 2024/25 and 2025/26 because the earlier assessment baseline was disrupted by COVID-19. The 2020 and 2021 GCSE results used assessed grades; these years remain gaps in the exam trend lines. Later grading transitions also affect comparisons.
At the end of primary school
55% reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined in 2025/26, compared with 63% across England. 3% reached the higher standard, compared with 9% nationally. Both figures are provisional.
- Portsmouth55%
- Southampton59%
- England63%
Reading, writing and maths: expected standard
2015/16 to 2025/26
Portsmouth · %
Reviewed figures: 2015/16 to 2025/26.
Shown on this chart: From 2015/16 to 2025/26, reading, writing and maths: expected standard rose by 7 percentage points in Portsmouth and rose by 9 percentage points in England.
Both places compared over 2015/16 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.
Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.
Actual values
Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.
Hover or tap the chart for a value. Use the date slider with touch or arrow keys. Escape closes the chart label.
Pupils at the end of key stage 2 in state-funded schools. The combined measure requires the expected standard in all three subjects. Provisional 2025/26; assessments were cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
A matching Chichester district series is not published in this education-authority dataset. West Sussex covers a wider area.
Source, full data and definitions
Department for Education dataset ↗ · downloaded 2026-11-02. Latest year: provisional.
The table retains published values for 2020 and 2021 where available; GCSE lines leave gaps because grades were assessed rather than awarded through the usual exams. No 30-year local trend is claimed.
| Period | Portsmouth | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 48 | 54 | 54 |
| 2016/17 | 57 | 62 | 62 |
| 2017/18 | 56 | 66 | 65 |
| 2018/19 | 58 | 64 | 65 |
| 2019/20 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| 2020/21 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| 2021/22 | 49 | 53 | 59 |
| 2022/23 | 49 | 56 | 60 |
| 2023/24 | 52 | 56 | 61 |
| 2024/25 | 54 | 57 | 63 |
| 2025/26 | 55 | 59 | 63 |
Higher-standard results over time
Reading, writing and maths: higher standard
2015/16 to 2025/26
Portsmouth · %
Reviewed figures: 2015/16 to 2025/26.
Shown on this chart: From 2015/16 to 2025/26, reading, writing and maths: higher standard rose by 1 percentage points in Portsmouth and rose by 4 percentage points in England.
Both places compared over 2015/16 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.
Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.
Actual values
Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.
Hover or tap the chart for a value. Use the date slider with touch or arrow keys. Escape closes the chart label.
Pupils at the end of key stage 2 reaching the higher standard in all three subjects. Provisional 2025/26; small numbers and rounding affect local comparisons.
A matching Chichester district series is not published in this education-authority dataset. West Sussex covers a wider area.
Source, full data and definitions
Department for Education dataset ↗ · downloaded 2026-11-02. Latest year: provisional.
The table retains published values for 2020 and 2021 where available; GCSE lines leave gaps because grades were assessed rather than awarded through the usual exams. No 30-year local trend is claimed.
| Period | Portsmouth | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| 2016/17 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| 2017/18 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| 2018/19 | 6 | 10 | 11 |
| 2019/20 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| 2020/21 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| 2021/22 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 2022/23 | 3 | 6 | 8 |
| 2023/24 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| 2024/25 | 3 | 7 | 8 |
| 2025/26 | 3 | 8 | 9 |
Disadvantaged pupils face a different picture
- Portsmouth22.7%
- Southampton21.4%
- England27.5%
In Portsmouth, 22.7% of disadvantaged pupils achieved grade 5+ in English and maths in 2025/26, compared with 34.1% of all pupils. These overlapping groups are not an estimate of the effect of disadvantage.
Disadvantaged pupils’ results over time
Disadvantaged pupils: GCSE English and maths grade 5+
2018/19 to 2025/26
Portsmouth · %
Reviewed figures: 2018/19 to 2025/26.
Shown on this chart: From 2018/19 to 2025/26, disadvantaged pupils: GCSE English and maths grade 5+ rose by 4 percentage points in Portsmouth and rose by 2.8 percentage points in England.
Both places compared over 2018/19 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.
Compared areas: Portsmouth; England.
Actual values
Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.
Hover or tap the chart for a value. Use the date slider with touch or arrow keys. Escape closes the chart label.
State-funded schools, disadvantaged pupils. DfE disadvantage definition includes eligible free school meal history and looked-after or previously looked-after children. Provisional for 2025/26.
A matching Chichester district series is not published in this education-authority dataset. West Sussex covers a wider area.
Source, full data and definitions
Department for Education dataset ↗ · downloaded 2026-11-02. Latest year: provisional.
The table retains published values for 2020 and 2021 where available; GCSE lines leave gaps because grades were assessed rather than awarded through the usual exams. No 30-year local trend is claimed.
| Period | Portsmouth | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/19 | 18.7 | 20.8 | 24.7 |
| 2019/20 (assessed grades) | 28 | 23.6 | 30.4 |
| 2020/21 (assessed grades) | 28 | 24.1 | 31.7 |
| 2021/22 | 23.6 | 23.3 | 29.6 |
| 2022/23 | 17.3 | 19.8 | 25.2 |
| 2023/24 | 20.1 | 21 | 25.8 |
| 2024/25 | 20.9 | 21.6 | 25.8 |
| 2025/26 | 22.7 | 21.4 | 27.5 |
Coverage and publication notes
A 30-year comparable local series is not available for these current definitions.
2020 and 2021 GCSE assessed grades are retained in the full table but omitted from exam trend lines. Later grading transitions and cohort differences remain relevant.
2025/26 primary and GCSE results are provisional. Progress 8 is unavailable for 2024/25 and 2025/26 because the prior-assessment baseline was disrupted.
Education data extracted and checked 2 November 2026. Download the education data and source receipts →