Redwood Park Academy, Portsmouth
Redwood Park Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Portsmouth, part of Solent Academies Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Redwood Park Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Redwood Park Academy are Cliffdale Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Outstanding); The Wymering School (1.1 miles); The Harbour School (1.8 miles, Inadequate); and Riverside Community Special School (2.3 miles, Good).
Cliffdale Primary AcademyThe Wymering SchoolThe Harbour SchoolRiverside Community Special School
The trust
Redwood Park Academy is one of 6 schools run by Solent Academies Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Redwood Park Academy (as of September 2025): 87% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 29 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 76% to a further education college.
Who goes there
58.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 16.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Redwood Park Academy has an education, health and care plan (168 of 168 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cosham Rail Station, about 890 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wembley Grove (nw-bound), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 246 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Portsmouth (499).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Redwood Park Academy issued 13 suspensions, 7.9 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 November 2019, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Some aspects are not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Redwood Park provides a warm, calm and happy place where pupils thrive. Staff really understand each child's needs and help them build confidence and independence. The school prepares pupils well for adult life through practical skills and work experience with local employers.
Key Strengths
- Pupils feel safe, settled and confident with kind, caring staff who respond supportively to their needs
- Curriculum has been revised to be more ambitious, with learning well-sequenced to build on what pupils know
- Excellent preparation for adult life, including independence skills in the school's own 'flat' and work experience with local employers
- Very good behaviour and positive relationships between staff and pupils
- Strong staff wellbeing and professional development programme
Areas for Improvement
- Reading support using phonics is not being taught precisely or regularly enough, and reading books don't match the sounds pupils are learning
- Some learning activities are not well-matched to pupils' needs or what they need to learn next
- Staff need better support to consistently deliver the school's more ambitious academic curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture where pupils know how to seek help and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School 'flat' for independence skills, work experience with local employers, seafront visits, kayaking, money-spending practice in shops, various clubs and community activities
Redwood Park Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11-16 with complex communication and learning difficulties. The school has made significant improvements following recent organisational changes, though some inconsistencies remain as staff adapt to new expectations.
At a Glance
58.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
31 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 Redwood Park Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Redwood Park Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Redwood Park 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
- 19
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
3 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
108%
Over capacity
168 pupils
155 places
13 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(3)
Ungraded inspection: Some aspects are not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
168
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
168
Total Pupils
122
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
6.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,668
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.7%
Overall absence
30.7%
Persistent absence
166
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
Redwood Park Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Redwood Park Academy
What is Redwood Park Academy's Ofsted rating?
Redwood Park Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Redwood Park Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Redwood Park Academy is oversubscribed, Portsmouth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Redwood Park Academy?
Redwood Park Academy has around 168 pupils on roll. 58% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Redwood Park Academy?
10.7% of sessions were missed at Redwood Park Academy in 2024/25. 30.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Redwood Park Academy?
Apply through Portsmouth's coordinated admissions process, naming Redwood Park 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 Redwood Park Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 5 serious and 13 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 3 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 Redwood Park Academy?
Redwood Park Academy is at Wembley Grove, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 2RY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)