The Flying Bull Academy, Portsmouth

Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~334m)Possible (~477m)Unlikely (~620m)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Grace Brown
Pupils:415 / 500 capacity
LA:Portsmouth
Phone:02392694313
Address:Flying Bull Lane, Buckland, Portsmouth, PO2 7BJ
Trust:UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTER (MULTI) ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2014

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 months ago

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

Achievement
Needs Attention
Behaviour
Needs Attention
Personal Development
Needs Attention
Leadership
Needs Attention
Early Years
Needs Attention
Inspected 9 June 2026View full report
URN:140719
UKPRN:10045684
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Portsmouth North
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

The Flying Bull Academy has created a warm, welcoming environment where all pupils feel safe and cared for, supported by strong pastoral work that helps them manage their emotions and focus on learning. New leadership is making rapid improvements to teaching, with particular strengths in phonics and early reading. Staff are committed, well-trained and positive about the school's direction, treating all pupils with respect and helping those who struggle with behaviour to succeed.

Key Strengths

  • Safeguarding is effective with an open culture where staff and pupils feel safe
  • Strong phonics teaching in Year 1 with many pupils becoming fluent readers quickly
  • New leadership team has quickly identified priorities and is making improvements at a good pace
  • Pupils show calm, purposeful behaviour in lessons with respectful relationships between staff and pupils
  • Good pastoral support helps pupils feel cared for and ready to learn

Areas for Improvement

  • Year 6 test results are well below national average and too many pupils leave unprepared for next stage
  • Attendance remains too low with persistent absence for some groups of pupils
  • Teaching quality is inconsistent across classes with some activities being too easy or too hard for pupils
  • Limited extracurricular clubs and trips, particularly for disadvantaged pupils
  • Early years teaching misses opportunities to develop children's language and vocabulary

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, resulting in pupils feeling safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Sport, music opportunities, school council, pupil leadership roles

The Flying Bull Academy has recently undergone significant leadership changes with a new headteacher and interim governing board working to improve the school. While safeguarding is effective and pupils are supported well, the school is addressing underachievement and inconsistencies in teaching quality.

At a Glance

57.0%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-19ppMaths-19ppWriting-16pp

Reading has declined from 64% to 45%. Maths has declined from 57% to 38%. Writing has declined from 54% to 38%.

Class Sizes

23.9

Avg class size

25.2

Infant (KS1)

26.8

KS2

17

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Ferry Terminals

Portsmouth International Cruise & Ferry Terminal (Entrance)
415m · 7 min walk

Bus Stops

Estella Road (Stand B)
187m · 3 min walk
International Port (Stand A)
245m · 4 min walk
Rudmore Roundabout (Stand D)
257m · 4 min walk
Kingston Crescent (N-bound)
274m · 4 min walk
Queens Road (SE-bound)
312m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

83%

Available places

415 pupils

500 capacity

85 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Portsmouth

Low pressure
New homes approved:570
Projected new pupils:143

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Portsmouth

Admissions Demand - Portsmouth

Low demand0.84x oversubscription

Places available

2,365

Applications

1,984

Got 1st preference

91.9%

Got preferred school

98.3%

Primary admissions across Portsmouth (2025/26)

Inspection History(5)

9 June 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
19 July 2022
1 February 2017

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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

7.24035%

Overall absence

24.02089%

Persistent absence

383

Enrolments

Authorised3.48134%
Unauthorised3.75901%
Persistent (10%+)24.02089%
Severe (50%+)2.08877%

Absence trend

3.58592%
18/19
3.78341%
20/21
5.84219%
21/22
7.76084%
22/23
7.64641%
23/24
7.24035%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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