Portslade Aldridge Community Academy, Brighton

Secondary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 1116

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.9km)Possible (~2.8km)Unlikely (~3.6km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Dr Mark Poston
Pupils:910 / 1,075 capacity
LA:Brighton and Hove
Phone:01273416300
Website:paca.uk.com
Address:Chalky Road, Portslade, Brighton, BN41 2WS
Trust:ALDRIDGE EDUCATION
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2011

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Inspected 20 January 2026View full report
URN:137063
UKPRN:10034944
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Hove and Portslade
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This school excels at making all pupils feel valued and included, especially those with additional needs or facing barriers to learning. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and create a warm, respectful environment where behaviour is excellent. Pupils leave well-prepared for their next steps with strong support from a comprehensive careers programme.

Key Strengths

  • Excellent inclusion and support for pupils with special educational needs, disabilities, and disadvantaged pupils
  • Behaviour has improved dramatically with very low disruption and a warm, positive school environment
  • Strong pastoral care with staff who know pupils well and prioritize their wellbeing
  • Well-designed, ambitious curriculum with knowledgeable teachers
  • Effective careers programme helping most pupils move to positive education or training

Areas for Improvement

  • Attendance rates remain too low, particularly among pupils with special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils
  • Some teachers move on before pupils have fully secured their understanding of important concepts
  • Pupils' engagement with employers and experience of the world of work needs strengthening
  • Teachers sometimes lack awareness of pupils' starting points and knowledge gaps

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Wide range of sporting pursuits, artistic pursuits, leadership roles for pupils

Portslade Aldridge Community Academy is a school with strong inclusive practices and positive culture where pupils behave well and feel safe. Exam results are broadly average, but pupils are making good progress and are well-prepared for their futures.

At a Glance

31.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

21.7

Avg class size

41

Total classes

4 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

College Close (adj)
75m · 1 min walk
Wickhurst Road (adj)
117m · 2 min walk
Community Centre (adj)
153m · 2 min walk
Portslade Aldridge Academy (adj)
178m · 3 min walk
Broomfield Drive (adj)
300m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

85%

Available places

910 pupils

1,075 capacity

165 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Brighton

Low pressure
New homes approved:3,587
Projected new pupils:646

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Brighton

Admissions Demand - Brighton and Hove

Low demand0.87x oversubscription

Places available

2,575

Applications

2,229

Got 1st preference

79.5%

Got preferred school

96.8%

Secondary admissions across Brighton and Hove (2025/26)

Inspection History(6)

20 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
16 November 2021
9 November 2016
Leadership & ManagementGood

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

11.57011%

Overall absence

28.19203%

Persistent absence

979

Enrolments

Authorised6.87801%
Unauthorised4.6921%
Persistent (10%+)28.19203%
Severe (50%+)7.04801%

Absence trend

7.60139%
18/19
6.72972%
20/21
11.58657%
21/22
11.86631%
22/23
11.78179%
23/24
11.57011%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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