Portfield School, Christchurch
Portfield School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Christchurch. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Portfield School in detail
Portfield School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include yoga, dance, guitar, Duke of Edinburgh and forest school.
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Portfield School are Linwood School (3 miles, Outstanding); Cambian Wing College (3 miles, Good); Tregonwell Academy (3.3 miles, Outstanding); and The White House School (3.3 miles).
Linwood SchoolCambian Wing CollegeTregonwell AcademyThe White House School
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Portfield School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child feels safe (82%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
27.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Portfield School has an education, health and care plan (144 of 144 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Portfield School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Portfield School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Garden Centres (w-bound), 300 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (223).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Portfield School issued 2 suspensions, 1.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Portfield School excels at helping pupils develop strong communication and language skills through multiple approaches tailored to individual needs. Staff create a warm, family-like environment where pupils feel safe and supported to learn, with personalised curricula that help most pupils thrive. The school successfully prepares students for adult life through hands-on learning, community engagement, and therapeutic support integrated into everyday learning.
Key Strengths
- Excellent communication and language development using signing, visual symbols and talk
- Nurturing, supportive relationships between staff and pupils creating a calm learning environment
- Strong therapeutic support closely aligned with learning, including speech and language therapy
- Well-structured careers programme with practical work experience in the community
- Robust, evidence-informed approach to behaviour management with personalised strategies
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum for a small number of pupils with strong literacy and numeracy skills is not sufficiently broad or challenging
- These higher-ability pupils lack opportunities to apply their literacy and numeracy skills across different subject areas
- Need to develop subject curriculum in greater depth for this cohort to prepare them better for next steps
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Paddleboarding, kayaking, daily walks, independent cooking, work experience as a barista in a cafe, community visits to shops and parks
Portfield School is a specialist provider for pupils on the autistic spectrum that has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. The school has a strong focus on developing communication skills, social-emotional learning, and preparing students for adult life.
At a Glance
27.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
22 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Portfield School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Portfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Portfield School is in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; for families living there:
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's school travel policy: Home to school transport policy
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 24 (the median across 117 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
96%
Near capacity
144 pupils
150 places
6 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Christchurch
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Christchurch
Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council
Places available
4,119
Applications
3,624
Got 1st preference
86.4%
Got preferred school
96.9%
All secondary applications across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
144
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Portfield School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
144
Total Pupils
113
Boys
31
Girls
2026 academic year
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.3%
Overall absence
27.3%
Persistent absence
110
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
Portfield School
Questions parents ask about Portfield School
What is Portfield School's Ofsted rating?
Portfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Portfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Portfield School is oversubscribed, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Portfield School?
Portfield School has around 144 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Portfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Portfield School provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Portfield School?
8.3% of sessions were missed at Portfield School in 2024/25. 27.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Portfield School?
Apply through Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's coordinated admissions process, naming Portfield School 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 Portfield School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 6 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 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 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is 24 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Portfield School?
Portfield School is at Parley Lane, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 6BP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)