Gatcombe Park Primary School, Portsmouth

In its own words: "The school became an Academy on February 1st 2015 and was the first school in the newly created Ridings Partnership. The Ridings Partnership is part of the the Hamwic Education Trust. Hamwic Education Trust celebrates the uniqueness of pupils, staff and schools, and aims for everyone to achieve their full potential through the pathways of opportunities available."

From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Ben Simpson, and I am proud to be the Headteacher of Gatcombe Park Primary School. We are a small, friendly school with a big heart, where every child is known, valued and supported to achieve their very best. Our vision is to develop safe, respectful and confident children who aspire to achieve their very best ."

The school runs after-school care until 5:30pm.

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at Gatcombe Park Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 70% and 68% in Portsmouth and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 77% in reading and 60% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 30 families put Gatcombe Park Primary School as their first choice and 88 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Gatcombe Park Primary School are King's Academy Northern Parade (Junior) (0.3 miles, Good, 65% reading, 65% maths); King's Academy Northern Parade (Infant) (0.3 miles, Requires improvement); Highbury Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 75% reading, 73% maths); and King's Academy College Park (Junior) (0.7 miles, Good, 72% reading, 62% maths).

Gatcombe Park Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Gatcombe Park Primary School is one of 37 schools run by Hamwic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

9.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (75%), Black (5%) and Asian (5%).

In 2026, 19 pupils (9.4%) received SEN support and 11 (5.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Hilsea Rail Station, about 680 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hilsea Park (n-bound), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 277 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Portsmouth (499).

In 2024/25, Gatcombe Park Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Gatcombe Park Primary School are UTC Portsmouth (0.2 miles), Trafalgar School (0.2 miles), Mayfield School (0.5 miles) and Admiral Lord Nelson School (1 mile).