Schools by area › Brighton and Hove › Portslade Aldridge Community Academy
Portslade Aldridge Community Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Chalky Road, Portslade, Brighton BN41 2WS · paca.uk.com · 01273 416300
On the mapSearch near BN41 2WS
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Brighton and Hove 46.2, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 910
- 85% of 1,075 places
- Local authority
- Brighton and Hove
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 31.6%
- First language not English
- 7.3%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Aldridge Education
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 150 families put the school first and 172 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 172 | 150 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 207 | 170 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 198 | 127 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 206 | 146 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 200 | 164 | 0.8 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.7, and 42.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Brighton and Hove it was 46.2, and across England 46.
In 2018/19 the average A level result was grade D+ (22.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼42.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼60.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲66.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.18 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 12.3 | −1.6 |
| Sixth form college | 35.8 | −2.8 |
| Further education | 38 | +6.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.1 | −1.3 |
| Employment | 1.6 | −2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.5 | +0.9 |
| Activity not captured | 3.7 | +1.9 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2018/19 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 students | D+ (22.1) | Well below average -0.78 | |
| 17 students | D+ (22.1) | Well below average -0.78 | |
| 14 students | Pass+ (18.8) | Well below average -0.83 | |
| Tech level12 students | Dist (34.8) | — |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | 30 | D (21.1) | -0.65 |
| 2016/17 | 39 | D+ (23) | -0.49 |
| 2015/16 | 43 | D (19.1) | -0.30 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2019/20 | Since 2016/17 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 13 | +3 |
| Apprenticeship | 10 | −3 |
| Employment | 38 | −7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 13 | −4 |
| Activity not captured | 26 | +13 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Portslade Aldridge Community Academy on 20 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 20 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Nov 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Nov 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (114 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Positive
- 88%
- Replies
- 114
- 12% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 84% who raised concerns
based on 18 parents (16%) whose child was bullied
based on 43 parents (38%) with SEND