St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Portsmouth

From the headteacher's welcome: "I hope that it will give you an insight in to our busy, friendly and successful school community. At St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School, we believe that a bright future starts with an excellent education. Our vision is to ignite a love of learning that enables every child to achieve their very best."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, choir and ukulele.

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 9.30am, an open day on Wednesday 9 December 2026 at 4pm and an open day on Thursday 7 January 2027 at 2pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 87% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 70% and 68% in Portsmouth and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 80% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 47 families put St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 108 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.6 first choices for every place. 17 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School are Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery (0.1 miles, Good, 59% reading, 50% maths); Ark Ayrton Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 78% reading, 81% maths); Penbridge Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); and Ark Dickens Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 72% reading, 73% maths).

St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

60.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (31%), White British (20%) and Mixed (11%).

In 2026, 30 pupils (12.7%) received SEN support and 18 (7.6%) 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.

St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School had 15 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Portsmouth & Southsea Rail Station, about 610 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Canberra House (w-bound), 250 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 1219 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Portsmouth (499), as is usual near a town centre.

St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School are St Edmund's Catholic School (0.2 miles), Ark Charter Academy (0.3 miles), Priory School (0.4 miles) and The Portsmouth Academy (0.5 miles).