Portfield Primary Academy, West Sussex

Ofsted's report card from its 13 January 2026 inspection grades Portfield Primary Academy on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a positive start in their schooling."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders set an inclusive vision for the school that is realised in practice."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a broad and well-considered personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils do not learn consistently well across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance remains consistently below national expectations."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Over time, the curriculum has not been taught consistently in line with leaders' expectations."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders' actions have not led to improvement across aspects of the school's work quickly enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that teaching is consistently effective so that pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve securely across the curriculum, particularly in reading and mathematics. • Leaders should ensure that teachers check pupils' prior learning and address gaps, so that all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, build and connect knowledge over time. • Leaders should continue their work to improve pupils' attendance and reduce rates of persistent absence, so that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, benefit from regular attendance and full access to the curriculum. • Leaders and the trust should evaluate the impact of improvement actions more sharply and ensure that these lead to sustained improvement in teaching, pupils' outcomes and attendance across the school".

In 2025, 47% of Year 6 pupils at Portfield Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 53% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 72% in West Sussex and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 48% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 30 families put Portfield Primary Academy as their first choice and 82 named it as one of their preferences, for 42 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Portfield Primary Academy are Rumboldswhyke CofE Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 41% reading, 24% maths); St Richard's Catholic Primary School (0.8 miles); St. Joseph's CofE Junior School (0.9 miles, Good, 45% reading, 45% maths); and St. Joseph's Infant School (0.9 miles).

Portfield Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.

Portfield Primary Academy is one of 45 schools run by The Kemnal Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

89 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Portfield Primary Academy (as of April 2026): 99% would recommend the school, 99% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (99%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (70%).

39.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 48 pupils (16.7%) received SEN support and 29 (10.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Portfield Primary Academy has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.

Portfield Primary Academy had 21 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Chichester Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Farndell Close (opposite), 80 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 440 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Sussex (103), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Portfield Primary Academy issued 32 suspensions, 12 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Portfield Primary Academy are Chichester High Schools Sixth Form (0.8 miles); Chichester High School (0.9 miles); Chichester Free School (1.2 miles); and Bishop Luffa School, Chichester (1.5 miles).