Portslade Aldridge Community Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Brighton, Brighton and Hove, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 193 of its 910 pupils (21.2%) were getting SEN support and 45 (4.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 910 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Brighton and Hove.
21.2% get SEN support
193 of 910 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
4.9% have an EHC plan
45 of 910 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism71
- Social, emotional and mental health69
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia50
- Speech, language and communication25
- Moderate learning difficulty16
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
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 910 (places for 1,075)
- Headteacher
- Dr Mark Poston (Principal)
- Part of
- Aldridge Education
- Free school meals
- 31.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Brighton and Hove
- School reference (URN)
- 137063
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 Brighton and Hove 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
Report card, January 2026: Expected standard in 4 of 6 areas
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
Chalky Road, Portslade, Brighton, BN41 2WS
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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
- Hill Park School Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Herons Dale School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- West Blatchington Primary and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Hove Park School and Sixth Form Centre Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Mile Oak Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 33.3%, EHC plans 5.8% 0.2 miles
- Peter Gladwin Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.9%, EHC plans 5.6% 0.5 miles
- St Nicolas CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 20.4%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Brighton and Hove SEND schools in Brighton and Hove
Questions about Portslade Aldridge Community Academy
How many pupils at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 193 of the 910 pupils (21.2%) were getting SEN support and 45 (4.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (71 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (69 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (50 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy?
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 Portslade Aldridge Community Academy?
Through Brighton and Hove 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 Portslade Aldridge Community Academy?
You can ask for Portslade Aldridge Community Academy 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 Portslade Aldridge Community Academy 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 West Blatchington Primary and Nursery School, about 1.5 miles away.
Where is Portslade Aldridge Community Academy?
Chalky Road, Portslade, Brighton, BN41 2WS, in Brighton and Hove.
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.