Gatcombe Park Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Portsmouth for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 19 of its 203 pupils (9.4%) were getting SEN support and 11 (5.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 203 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Portsmouth.
9.4% get SEN support
19 of 203 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
5.4% have an EHC plan
11 of 203 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health12
- Moderate learning difficulty7
- Speech, language and communication6
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 203 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Ben Simpson
- Part of
- Hamwic Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 27.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Portsmouth
- School reference (URN)
- 141728
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 Good, May 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
St Barbara Way, Hilsea, Portsmouth, PO2 0UR
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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
- Trafalgar School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Cliffdale Primary Academy Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2025) 0.4 miles
- Redwood Park Academy Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- The Flying Bull Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- UTC Portsmouth Secondary · Ages 14–19 · SEN support 13%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.2 miles
- King's Academy Northern Parade (Junior) Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 15.9%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.3 miles
- King's Academy Northern Parade (Infant) Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 9.1%, EHC plans 5.6% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Portsmouth SEND schools in Portsmouth
Questions about Gatcombe Park Primary School
How many pupils at Gatcombe Park Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 19 of the 203 pupils (9.4%) were getting SEN support and 11 (5.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Gatcombe Park Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (12 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (7 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Gatcombe Park Primary 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 Gatcombe Park Primary 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 Gatcombe Park Primary School?
You can ask for Gatcombe Park Primary 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 Gatcombe Park Primary 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 Trafalgar School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is Gatcombe Park Primary School?
St Barbara Way, Hilsea, Portsmouth, PO2 0UR, 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.