St Edmund's Catholic School is a mainstream secondary school in Portsmouth for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 130 of its 1,157 pupils (11.2%) were getting SEN support and 31 (2.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,157 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Portsmouth.
11.2% get SEN support
130 of 1,157 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.7% have an EHC plan
31 of 1,157 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty38
- Social, emotional and mental health35
- Speech, language and communication33
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia20
- Autism7
- Visual impairment7
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,157 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Graham
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 28.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Portsmouth
- School reference (URN)
- 116505
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Portsmouth council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, February 2016; school remains Outstanding (June 2022)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in February 2016. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (ungraded inspection, June 2022).
Contact and getting there
Arundel Street, Portsmouth, PO1 1RX
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.2 miles
- Penbridge Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–7 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Mary Rose Academy Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.4 miles
- The Harbour School Special school · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St John's Cathedral Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 7.6% 0.1 miles
- Ark Charter Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 19.6%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.2 miles
- Ark Ayrton Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 9.1%, EHC plans 8.5% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Portsmouth SEND schools in Portsmouth
Questions about St Edmund's Catholic School
How many pupils at St Edmund's Catholic School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 130 of the 1,157 pupils (11.2%) were getting SEN support and 31 (2.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Edmund's Catholic School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (38 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (35 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (33 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Edmund's Catholic School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Edmund's Catholic School?
Through Portsmouth council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Edmund's Catholic School?
You can ask for St Edmund's Catholic School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Edmund's Catholic School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is St Edmund's Catholic School?
Arundel Street, Portsmouth, PO1 1RX, in Portsmouth.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.