Ofsted reports now published 

New Ofsted reports are now available for the following Portsmouth schools:

Devonshire Infant School - inspected on 19 May 2026. Read the full report

Castle View Academy - inspected on 2 June 2026. Read the full report

The Wymering School - inspected on 2 June 2026. Read the full report

Admiral Lord Nelson School - inspected on 9 June 2026. Read the full report

The Flying Bull Academy - inspected on 9 June 2026. Read the full report 

Have a SEND-sational summer with free and low-cost activities in Portsmouth

The summer holidays are an exciting time for children and young people as school and college come to a close for the academic year. For families seeking accessible and low-cost activities, finding affordable things to do can be a challenge.

Portsmouth SEND Local Offer is a central resource where families and professionals can find information about support, services, and opportunities available for children and young people aged 0–25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Portsmouth.

To help everyone have a summer to remember, community groups and organisations have shared information about accessible activities and events. From the Homestart Family Festival to play and sports sessions, there is something for everyone this season.

Please share this with your school community. Parents and carers can check back regularly throughout the summer holidays as more events and activities are added.

For more information, visit the Portsmouth SEND Local Offer website: Summer Fun – events and activities for families in Portsmouth.

Support for the Year 6 to Year 7 transition period with HAF Fun Pompey

Portsmouth's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme provides free fun activities and healthy food throughout the school holidays for children aged 5-16 who receive benefits-related free school meals. 

The Council's HAF team has been working with The Portsmouth Academy to offer positive engagement activities during the Year 6 to Year 7 transition period. The programme included a fun glow sports activity delivered by Y+, a relaxed creative session with Artswork, and a picnic and team building activities with participating Year 6 students and their Year 7&8 buddies.

These sessions create a supportive space for pupils to connect with peers and begin to feel more familiar with the secondary school environment. Hellen Piper at The Portsmouth Academy said: 

"We have 42 schools feeding into The Portsmouth Academy, and sometimes a child may not know anyone when they arrive. These activities give students the opportunity to come into the environment, take part in fun, engaging sessions and make friends naturally. Many have gone on to sign up for holiday activities and returned to school feeling more confident because they have already started to build friendships. The support from the HAF team has been invaluable and has made a real difference to our transition offer."

For more information about HAF Fun Pompey or transition activities, contact haf@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Survey: How do children and young people use outdoor spaces?

Nature Positive Portsmouth is carrying out the Outdoor Spaces Survey to understand how children and young people use parks, playgrounds, the beach and other outdoor spaces across Portsmouth.

This project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Nature Towns & Cities programme. Nature Positive Portsmouth wants to understand how children aged 8 to 15 spend time outdoors, how often they visit outdoor places, and what might stop them from using them more.

The survey is not about rating specific parks or suggesting changes. Instead, the findings will help build evidence for future planning, including a city-wide green infrastructure strategy and future investment in outdoor spaces.

Children and young people can take part at this link: https://www.research.net/r/OutdoorSpacesYPPEP

Please share the survey with your school community. Nature Positive Portsmouth want to hear from young people who spend lots of time outdoors as well as those who rarely visit outdoor places.

Printable versions of the survey are available on request for schools and families who would prefer a paper copy.

Careers with Languages event

The Solent Language Network invites schools and pupils in Years 5 and 6 to their Careers with Languages event, taking place on Monday 5 October, 12.30pm to 2.30pm, at Admiral Lord Nelson School, Portsmouth.

This interactive session is designed to inspire younger learners by introducing them to the exciting world of languages and the diverse careers that language skills can lead to. 

Activities will include team-building exercises, inspirational talks, and videos about real-life careers that use languages and experiences from students who have studied abroad. Pupils can also take part in a lively quiz exploring global cultures, and try a Japanese taster session. A high-energy Futbol Lingo workshop will link the worlds of football and languages, showing how language learning can lead to exciting careers in sports, media, international travel, and beyond. 

This event is free of charge, but places are limited, so schools are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

To confirm your school’s attendance, please contact Elle Smith by Friday 18 September.

Stomp for Stamps: Summer treasure hunt 

Portsmouth’s popular summer treasure hunt, Stomp for Stamps, is back from Friday 24 July, giving families a great way to explore the city’s green spaces.

This free, fun activity encourages children to walk, wheel and cycle, helping them stay active over the holidays while supporting cleaner air in Portsmouth. It also promotes road safety and builds lifelong sustainable travel habits.

During the challenge, children can get creative, learn new skills, and collect stickers and rewards. This year, families can also join the Portsmouth 100 celebrations through the Pride of Portsmouth lions trail, with a chance to win a limited-edition cuddly lion toy.

We’d be very grateful if you could share this with your school community. If you would like any social media designs or suggested text for your parental communications, please email kathy.smith@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.

Learn more about Stomp for Stamps on the Travel Portsmouth website.

Roar into action this summer with the Pride of Portsmouth lion trail

This summer, Portsmouth has come alive with the Pride of Portsmouth lion trail, a colourful city-wide public art event taking place from Monday 13 July to Sunday 13 September 2026.

As part of the Portsmouth100 centenary celebrations, the trail has been created in partnership with Wild in Art and features a pride of lion sculptures designed by artists and local community groups across the city.

To help schools get involved, we've created free KS1 and KS2 activity packs packed with fun, curriculum-linked activities that encourage creativity, exploration and learning about Portsmouth's history, culture and community.

The trail offers a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop a sense of pride in their city while engaging with art beyond the classroom.

We'd be grateful if you could share the attached activity pack with staff and families to help children make the most of this exciting city-wide celebration.

The Pride of Portsmouth activity sheet_SCHOOLS.pdf

Find out more: prideofportsmouth.co.uk

Read to the Beat - Summer Reading Challenge in Portsmouth libraries

The Summer Reading Challenge launched on 4 July and is a great, free, summer-long journey of discovery, inspiring children aged 4-11 to keep reading throughout the summer holidays. They can set their own reading target and earn rewards along the way.

Everyone who reaches their target will be invited to a Celebration Event at Southsea Castle on Sunday 27 September.

Head to your local library to sign up and get ready to Read to the Beat! this summer. 

Please share the above with your school communities. Attached flyer to share.