Mary Rose Academy, Portsmouth
Mary Rose Academy is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Portsmouth, part of Solent Academies Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, ended in a report card: 1 exceptional and 7 strong standard. Before that it was rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in October 2013.
- Ofsted report card
- 8 of 8 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Mary Rose Academy in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 6 January 2026 inspection grades Mary Rose Academy on 8 areas: 1 exceptional and 7 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Post 16 provision - Exceptional. "Leaders have a palpable sense of ambition for post-16 students."
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very well."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils often join the school with significant barriers to attendance."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The school offers a high-quality, ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of pupils precisely."
Early years - Strong standard. "Children in the early years have a very strong start to their school life."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school's approach to inclusion is of a high quality."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have a precise understanding of the school and the wider community they serve."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's work to promote pupils' personal development and wellbeing is excellent."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to refine and connect their evaluative processes so that developments across sites and pathways are understood well and used to shape provision with increasingly far-reaching benefits for pupils' evolving needs".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Mary Rose Academy are Cliffdale Primary Academy (2.2 miles, Outstanding); The Harbour School (2.6 miles, Inadequate); Redwood Park Academy (3 miles, Outstanding); and Oarsome Chance (3.6 miles).
Cliffdale Primary AcademyThe Harbour SchoolRedwood Park AcademyOarsome Chance
The trust
Mary Rose Academy is one of 6 schools run by Solent Academies Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Mary Rose Academy (as of April 2026): 92% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 14 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
60.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 26.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (60%), Asian (14%) and Black (9%).
In 2026, 12 pupils (6%) received SEN support and 189 (94%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is autism.
Mary Rose Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Fratton Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hollam Road (w-bound), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Mary Rose Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 9 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Post 16 provisionExceptional
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Mary Rose Academy
The school's ethos of 'it's got to be possible' is evident throughout the school. Staff show no limits to the aspirations that they have for pupils. This is evident in the high-quality opportunities that all pupils benefit from. For example, all pupils enjoy a school residential, designed to develop their resilience. Pupils have their individual needs met consistently well at this highly aspirational school. The impact of the school is transformative for many pupils. Staff work closely with each pupil to ensure that they learn the essential skills needed for their next steps. Pupils are expertly supported to become increasingly independent and confident in their communication. Pupils, including those with the most complex needs, are supported to feel valued and to have a voice in the school. Pupils love learning. They show high levels of attention to their teachers. They engage very positively with the purposeful activities staff provide. Many pupils are supported to make their first meaningful steps into the world of work as a result of the school's innovative ‘classroom in the heart of industry' approach. Pupils achieve very well and make clear progress from their starting points. They are highly prepared for their life beyond school. The school provides a calm and purposeful environment in which all pupils flourish. Staff work hard to build deep and caring relationships with pupils. Pupils feel safe and happy as a result of this work. This is evident in the smiles and laughter that pupils exhibit on arrival at school. Pupils who need additional help to regulate their behaviour are very well supported. Skilled staff work tirelessly with pupils to engage with them and return them to learning. Deeply embedded routines and expectations lead to pupils behaving very well.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should continue to refine and connect their evaluative processes so that developments across sites and pathways are understood well and used to shape provision with increasingly far-reaching benefits for pupils' evolving needs.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 6 January 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Mary Rose Academy excels at supporting pupils with complex needs to achieve significant progress from their individual starting points. Staff build strong relationships with pupils and provide expertly tailored support that helps even the smallest steps represent huge achievements. The school goes above and beyond by training staff in mainstream schools and creating innovative provisions like the 'Bridge' programme to support families in the wider community.
Key Strengths
- Post-16 provision with innovative 'classroom in the heart of industry' curriculum preparing students for work and independent living
- Excellent behaviour and attendance support, with attendance remaining above national averages despite pupils' significant barriers
- High-quality, flexible curriculum precisely matched to individual pupil needs with expert teaching and regular progress checks
- Strong inclusion work, including the innovative 'Bridge' provision described as a 'lifeline' for families
- Comprehensive staff training and development ensuring consistent, expert support for pupils with complex medical and educational needs
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.
Mary Rose Academy is a special school that has been rated as meeting all standards across the board. The school demonstrates exceptional leadership, ambitious curriculum design, and outstanding support for pupils with complex needs.
At a Glance
60.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Mary Rose Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Mary Rose Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Mary Rose Academy is in Portsmouth; for families living there:
- Portsmouth's school travel policy: Travel assistance policy for school age (5-16) children
- How to apply: apply for discretionary travel assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 51
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 51 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 37 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
12 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Portsmouth is 57 (the median across 67 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
161%
Over capacity
201 pupils
125 places
76 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Portsmouth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Portsmouth
Across Portsmouth council
Places available
2,178
Applications
2,140
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
96.1%
All secondary applications across Portsmouth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
12
SEN Support
189
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Mary Rose Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
201
Total Pupils
128
Boys
73
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
33
Teachers
6.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,350
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.0%
Overall absence
42.0%
Persistent absence
138
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Mary Rose Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Mary Rose Academy
What are SATs results like at Mary Rose Academy?
Of the pupils at Mary Rose Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Mary Rose Academy's Ofsted rating?
Mary Rose Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Mary Rose Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Mary Rose Academy is oversubscribed, Portsmouth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Mary Rose Academy?
Mary Rose Academy has around 201 pupils on roll. 60% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Mary Rose Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Mary Rose Academy provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Mary Rose Academy?
13% of sessions were missed at Mary Rose Academy in 2024/25. 42% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Mary Rose Academy?
Apply through Portsmouth's coordinated admissions process, naming Mary Rose Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Mary Rose Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 51 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 37 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 12 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Portsmouth is 57 (the median across 67 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Mary Rose Academy?
Mary Rose Academy is at Gisors Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 8GT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)