The Harbour School

The Harbour School is currently facing significant challenges, as it has been deemed to require special measures due to failing to provide an acceptable standard of education. Despite leaders' intentions for improvement, the overall effectiveness of management and governance has been inadequate, contributing to a lack of success in overcoming barriers related to attendance and the overall emotional wellbeing of pupils. Many students at the school, who have complex social, emotional, and mental health needs, are not achieving the skills and knowledge necessary for their next stages of education or employment. Positive aspects include the strong relationships that staff build with pupils, particularly those who are extremely vulnerable. The development of a specialized curriculum aimed at supporting these needs is underway, alongside efforts to increase engagement through alternative provisions such as a football academy. However, these initiatives have yet to produce significant improvements in pupil outcomes, and attendance rates remain alarmingly low across various school provisions, which is a crucial focus for urgent action moving forward.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils.
• Development of a specialized curriculum for vulnerable pupils.
• Implementation of a whole-school reading strategy.
• Opportunities for vocational learning through local college partnerships.

Areas for Improvement

• Pupils' attendance rates are extremely low and declining.
• Insufficient management of part-time timetables affecting attendance.
• Many pupils are not achieving the skills or knowledge needed for future success.
• Lack of effective strategies to help pupils overcome barriers to learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Harbour School attended 51.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 91.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 87.0% of pupils at The Harbour School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Harbour School had 4.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 32.1% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 The Harbour School had 169 pupils, 80.5% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: social, emotional and mental health.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Harbour School received £39,405 and spent £37,297 for each of its 226 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £785,000 (£3,474 per pupil).

Across all 10 schools of Southern Education Trust, income was £12,981 and spending £13,303 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Portsmouth · Portsmouth local authority: places and applications

The Harbour School is part of Southern Education Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• The Wymering School Portsmouth
• Winton Primary School Bournemouth
• Parley First School Ferndown
• Ferndown First School Ferndown
• Ferndown Middle School Ferndown
• Broadstone Middle School Broadstone
• Broadstone First School Broadstone
• Harbour School Dorset
• Wyvern Academy Weymouth

What is The Harbour School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Harbour School is Urgent improvement, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was The Harbour School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Harbour School was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does The Harbour School have?

The Harbour School has 169 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Harbour School cover?

The Harbour School for pupils aged 5 to 19.

What are The Harbour School's GCSE results?

In 2024 its average Attainment 8 score was 7.1, and 3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are The Harbour School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Harbour School?

The Harbour School is at Tipner Lane, Tipner, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 8RA.