Education in Portsmouth
The education data behind the story
Published source records, definitions and comparison areas sit together here. Each has its own period and source date; the results, attendance and support pages explain the main findings.
Data used in the current charts
These are the latest published observations in the education package. Periods and units differ between measures; compare rates rather than raw event totals across places. The linked analysis pages contain the histories, definitions and original-source links.
Download all education histories and source receipts →
| Measure | Period and unit | Portsmouth | Southampton | Chichester district | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths: grade 5 or above | 2025/26 %Provisional | 34.1 | 35.6 | 46.7 | 46.3 |
| Average Attainment 8 score | 2025/26 pointsProvisional | 39.3 | 40.2 | 44 | 46.2 |
| Disadvantaged pupils: GCSE English and maths grade 5+ | 2025/26 %Provisional | 22.7 | 21.4 | No matching district data | 27.5 |
| Reading, writing and maths: expected standard | 2025/26 %Provisional | 55 | 59 | No matching district data | 63 |
| Reading, writing and maths: higher standard | 2025/26 %Provisional | 3 | 8 | No matching district data | 9 |
| Permanent exclusions per 100 pupils | 2024/25 per 100 pupils | 0.068 | 0.053 | No matching district data | 0.118 |
| Suspension events per 100 pupils | 2024/25 per 100 pupils | 16.578 | 12.732 | No matching district data | 10.875 |
| Pupil enrolments with at least one suspension | 2024/25 % | 4.57 | 4.728 | No matching district data | 3.891 |
| Permanent exclusion events | 2024/25 events | 19 | 18 | No matching district data | 9,906 |
| Suspension events | 2024/25 events | 4,650 | 4,338 | No matching district data | 913,000 |
| Pupil enrolments with at least one suspension | 2024/25 enrolments | 1,282 | 1,611 | No matching district data | 326,674 |
| New EHC plans issued within 20 weeks | 2025 % | 42.9 | 80 | No matching district data | 46.1 |
| Active education, health and care plans | 2026 plans | 2,616 | 2,945 | No matching district data | 718,838 |
| 16–17 year olds known to be outside education, employment or training | 2026 % | 5.481 | 4.95 | No matching district data | 3.4 |
| 16–17 year olds whose activity is unknown | 2026 % | 6.045 | 2.288 | No matching district data | 2.4 |
Earlier education source records
The retained source collection contains 74 records for this topic, including comparison areas and older releases. Each record keeps its own period and source date. Current findings above may use newer releases; a later page update does not refresh every record.
Browse 25 measures and their sources
Severe absence — all school types
- Portsmouth3.548%
- Southampton3.362%
- England2.387%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 3.55% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 3.36% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 3.55% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 2.39% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 3.55% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
New EHC plans issued within 20 weeks
- Portsmouth42.9%
- England46.1%
- Southampton80%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2025 | 42.9% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2025 | 46.1% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2025 | 42.9% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2025 | 80.0% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2025 | 42.9% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 GCSE cohort | 35.2% | Pupils passing English and maths GCSE at grade 5+, vs Southampton and England. Portsmouth state-funded schools. DfE ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23 |
Pupils on a school roll holding an Education, Health and Care plan
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth January 2026 | 7.17% | Share of Portsmouth pupils holding an EHC plan, vs Southampton and England. Portsmouth schools, all types. DfE ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23 |
16–17 year olds known to be NEET
- Portsmouth5.481%
- England3.4%
- Southampton4.95%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2026 | 5.5% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2026 | 3.4% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2026 | 5.5% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2026 | 4.9% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2026 | 5.5% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Pupils on roll against capacity, UTC Portsmouth
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth pupils on roll | 491 | Pupils on roll at UTC Portsmouth against its approved capacity — one part of the skills picture, shown because it is the only 14-19 technical route with published local data. UTC Portsmouth. Ofsted ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23 |
Persistent absence — all school types
- Portsmouth19.74%
- Southampton21.4%
- England18.143%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 19.74% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 21.40% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 19.74% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 18.14% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 19.74% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Persistent absence — primary
- Portsmouth12.746%
- England12.992%
- Southampton15.991%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 12.75% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 12.99% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 15.99% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Severe absence — primary
- Portsmouth0.952%
- England0.931%
- Southampton1.26%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 0.95% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 0.93% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 1.26% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Persistent absence — secondary
- Portsmouth25.707%
- England23.369%
- Southampton27.214%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 25.71% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 23.37% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 27.21% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Severe absence — secondary
- Portsmouth5.511%
- England3.878%
- Southampton5.85%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 5.51% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 3.88% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 5.85% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Persistent absence — special
- Portsmouth54.167%
- England35.26%
- Southampton35.828%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 54.17% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 35.26% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 35.83% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Severe absence — special
- Portsmouth19.762%
- England6.909%
- Southampton5.031%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 19.76% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 6.91% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 5.03% | Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Active education, health and care plans
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England January 2026 | 718,838 | Includes early years, further education and children educated elsewhere. This is not the number or share of school pupils with an EHC plan. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth January 2026 | 2,616 | Includes early years, further education and children educated elsewhere. This is not the number or share of school pupils with an EHC plan. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton January 2026 | 2,945 | Includes early years, further education and children educated elsewhere. This is not the number or share of school pupils with an EHC plan. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
New EHC plans issued within 20 weeks — including exceptions
- England45.5%
- Portsmouth42.9%
- Southampton74.6%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2025 | 45.5% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2025 | 42.9% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2025 | 74.6% | Use the same exceptions basis for all comparisons. Excluding exceptions is the DfE release headline. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Permanent exclusions
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2024/25 | 9,906 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 19 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 18 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Permanent exclusion rate
- England0.118%
- Portsmouth0.068%
- Southampton0.053%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2024/25 | 0.118% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 0.068% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 0.053% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Suspensions
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2024/25 | 913,000 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 4,650 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 4,338 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Suspension rate
- England10.875%
- Portsmouth16.578%
- Southampton12.732%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2024/25 | 10.88% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 16.58% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 12.73% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Pupils with at least one suspension
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2024/25 | 326,674 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| England 2024/25 | 3.89% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 1,282 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 4.57% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 1,611 | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2024/25 | 4.73% | Suspension events can include repeated suspensions of the same pupil; the suspension event rate is not the percentage of pupils suspended. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
16–17 year olds whose activity is unknown
- England2.4%
- Portsmouth6.045%
- Southampton2.288%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2026 | 2.4% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2026 | 6.0% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2026 | 2.3% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
16–17 year olds NEET or activity unknown
- England5.8%
- Portsmouth11.526%
- Southampton7.238%
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| England 2026 | 5.8% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Portsmouth 2026 | 11.5% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
| Southampton 2026 | 7.2% | Average of December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 returns. DfE management information: local authority tracking completeness varies. Unknown activity must not be presented as confirmed NEET. National rates are published rounded to one decimal; local rates shown to one decimal for consistent presentation. Department for Education ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
University of Southampton — higher education students (FTE)
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton 2024/25 | 24,340 FTE | Provider-wide student full-time equivalents, not headcount or the number living within the city. May include provision delivered outside the city. Rounded by OfS. Office for Students ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
Southampton Solent University — higher education students (FTE)
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton 2024/25 | 7,605 FTE | Provider-wide student full-time equivalents, not headcount or the number living within the city. May include provision delivered outside the city. Rounded by OfS. Office for Students ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
University of Portsmouth — higher education students (FTE)
| Area and period | Figure | Definition, source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 2024/25 | 20,731 FTE | Provider-wide student full-time equivalents, not headcount or the number living within the city. May include provision delivered outside the city. Rounded by OfS. Office for Students ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03 |
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 →