St Vincent College: A Gosport sixth form college with strong inclusion and a wide course mix

A sixth form college built on a site with an unusually layered past, St Vincent’s identity is shaped as much by its setting as by its curriculum. The iconic clocktower is a local landmark, and the college’s own history traces a line from naval training through to post 16 education, with Gosport Sixth Form College opening here in 1987 and later adopting the St Vincent name.

Today, St Vincent serves a mixed 16 to 19 cohort alongside adult learning, and it has a distinctive strength in high needs provision. The latest full inspection judged the college Good overall, with Outstanding for provision for learners with high needs, which matters for families seeking a mainstream sixth form college that also takes specialist support seriously.

For students, the practical proposition is straightforward. There is breadth, including A-levels, vocational programmes and T Levels, a 9:00am start designed around travel patterns, and a culture that emphasises respect and day to day conduct rather than formality.

St Vincent’s atmosphere is best understood as purposeful, calm, and community-facing. The most recent inspection report describes students as respectful and supportive towards each other, and highlights a college climate where students take pride in their work and aim for recognition through routines such as Student of the Week and the college’s Positive Noticing Day. That kind of language tends to signal a sixth form that is intentionally structured, and one where behaviour expectations are clear without feeling punitive.

The college’s inclusion story is not a bolt-on. A significant share of the learner population is supported through high needs funding, and the School of Personalised Learning sits as part of the wider campus rather than as a separate outpost. In practice, that matters because it usually shifts the culture. Staff get used to thinking in terms of accessible teaching, supportive routines, and independence skills, which can benefit the wider student body too, especially for those who have not thrived in a large secondary setting.

The physical identity is also unusually clear for a sixth form college. St Vincent’s history page sets out the site’s earlier life, including its naval connection, the later redevelopment, and the fact that while many historic buildings were demolished, the clocktower remained. For some students, this kind of place-based story strengthens belonging; for others, it is simply an interesting backdrop to daily college life.

One final, distinctive note is that St Vincent positions itself as a community asset. The Ritz Cinema, described as a volunteer-run community cinema, is a good example of how the site is used for more than timetabled lessons, and it hints at a college that is connected to local life rather than closed off from it.

St Vincent is a post 16 provider, so the most relevant published outcome indicators relate to A-level performance. The headline picture is that outcomes sit below the England averages provided for comparison.

Ranked 2,090th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance sits below England average, placing it within the bottom 40% of A-level providers in England. This is a useful reality check for students where grades are the primary driver, particularly those aiming for the most academically selective university pathways.

Looking at grade distribution, 4.35% of entries achieved A*, 8.7% achieved A, and 15.22% achieved B. Combined, 28.26% of entries were at A* to B. The England benchmark is 23.6% at A* to A and 47.2% at A* to B, so St Vincent’s A* to B proportion is lower than the England average figure provided. The implication is not that strong students cannot succeed here, but that students should pay attention to subject choice, teaching fit, and the support structures that help them sustain momentum across two years.

For parents using FindMySchool, this is a good moment to use the Local Hub comparison tool to view St Vincent alongside other nearby post 16 options, especially if travel to Portsmouth, Fareham, or Southampton is feasible. The most helpful comparisons are usually subject-specific rather than generic, because outcomes can vary significantly between departments in sixth form settings.

The strongest evidence for teaching at St Vincent is the way lessons are described in the most recent inspection report. Teaching is characterised as clear, with teachers using varied techniques and promoting discussion effectively. The report gives concrete examples across academic and vocational learning, including A-level biology case studies and carpentry work that builds practical competence and pride in finished outcomes. Those examples matter because they show that teaching is not framed as one-size-fits-all; instead, it is designed to work across different course types and starting points.

St Vincent also places emphasis on learning that returns to prior knowledge so students practise and consolidate, and on assessment that helps students understand how to improve. This tends to suit students who need structure, particularly those who arrive with uneven GCSE experiences or who benefit from repeated practice on exam command verbs and applied tasks.

Course breadth is a defining feature. St Vincent explicitly describes offering A-levels, vocational programmes and newer technical routes such as T Levels. For students, the practical implication is choice and flexibility. A-levels suit those keeping options open across multiple subjects, vocational routes suit students who learn best through applied work, and T Levels will appeal to those who want a substantial industry placement embedded in the programme.

Where Students Go Next

St Vincent’s destination picture suggests a fairly employment-leaning outcome profile for the 2023/24 cohort. In that cohort, 16% progressed to university, 2% to further education, 2% to apprenticeships, and 33% to employment.

For families, the key is alignment. If the student’s goal is employment with progression through work, that employment figure may feel reassuring. If the aim is university, the implication is that students should use the college’s careers guidance and application support early, and should be proactive about super curricular activity, work experience, and personal statement preparation.

Careers support is a clear strength in the most recent inspection evidence, which describes a comprehensive careers advice and guidance programme, with input from employers and higher education representatives, and support for university applications. That matters most for students who do not have established networks for next steps planning, and it also aligns with St Vincent’s wider role as a community-facing provider.

Admissions at St Vincent are handled directly by the college for sixth form entry, and the process is designed to be accessible rather than selective. The college encourages applicants to attend an open event, apply online early, then attend a welcome meeting to discuss course choices and entry requirements.

For September 2026 entry, St Vincent’s guidance is unusually specific on timing. It recommends applying before the end of March so priority can be given to applications received by then, and it sets out key moments in the year, including an applicant event on 23 June 2026 and enrolment running from 20 August 2026 to 28 August 2026.

Open events are published in advance, with the next listed open event running 5pm to 7pm on 21 May 2026. For families planning ahead, the safest approach is to treat open evenings as the start of the decision process, then apply early even if GCSE outcomes are still uncertain, since offers are typically conditional on grades.

If you are weighing several post 16 options, the Saved Schools feature on FindMySchool can help organise open evening notes, course availability, and travel time so decisions are made on evidence rather than last-minute pressure.

Pastoral support at St Vincent is built around day to day structures and a clear expectation of respect. The most recent inspection evidence describes students feeling safe, including online, and indicates that concerns are acted on quickly and appropriately. That is a meaningful signal for parents, because sixth form colleges rely heavily on students managing independence while still needing strong safeguarding and welfare systems behind the scenes.

St Vincent’s tutorial programme is positioned as an important part of student support, and the inspection report suggests leaders want the tutorial offer to be even more closely matched to student needs. For families, the implication is practical. Ask how tutor time is used, how attendance and study habits are monitored, and how quickly support is triggered if engagement drops, because attendance is identified as an area for continued improvement.

For students with special educational needs and disabilities, St Vincent’s School of Personalised Learning is a key part of the pastoral and learning offer. The college describes tailored courses across pre-entry to level 2, specialist teaching, supported environments, and access to medical assistance for learners who need it. Families considering this pathway should focus conversations on transition planning, independence goals, and how meaningful work experience is embedded across the programme.

Enrichment at St Vincent is unusually transparent because the college publishes a detailed example list of activities offered since September 2025. For a sixth form college, that specificity is valuable, since enrichment is often described in vague terms elsewhere.

The menu includes clubs such as Dungeons and Dragons, Politics Club, Book Club, Digital Skills, Driving Test Theory, and a set of next steps activities including UCAS support and a university-focused strand. The college also lists identity and community options, including LGBTQ+, which can matter for students who want a setting where belonging is actively supported rather than left to chance.

Sport and wellbeing opportunities also read as practical rather than performative. The college lists activities such as Park Walk, rugby for fitness, and recreational football, and the inspection report links park walks to wellbeing benefits. Facilities referenced alongside this include a climbing wall, sports hall, an archery range, a weights room, and badminton courts, which gives students realistic options for staying active even with an academic timetable.

St Vincent’s Esports pathway is another distinctive strand. It is referenced both in enrichment and in wider college activity, and the college has a named team, St Vincent Sharks, which has competed at external events. For students motivated by digital competition, broadcasting, or related creative industries, this is more than a casual club, it can be part of a coherent progression story.

Trips are used to extend subject learning. The college cites examples such as law visits to Portsmouth Crown Court, sociology conferences, and art and photography trips to New York and London galleries. These are the kinds of experiences that help students test whether a subject is worth pursuing beyond sixth form, and they can strengthen personal statements and interview readiness.

St Vincent runs a 9:00am start time, and positions this as helpful for student focus and daily travel planning. For many families across Gosport and surrounding areas, this is a practical advantage, particularly when combined with bus services and the nearby ferry connection that make cross-harbour travel feasible.

Term dates and key transition dates are clearly published. For September 2026 starters, the headline operational dates to note are the applicant event on 23 June 2026 and enrolment from 20 August 2026 to 28 August 2026.

This is a state-funded provider, so there are no tuition fees for 16 to 19 study programmes. Families should still budget for typical sixth form costs such as equipment, travel, and optional trips, and it is worth asking early about any financial support available for travel or course-related costs.

• Outcomes are a mixed picture. A-level outcomes sit below the England averages provided, and the FindMySchool ranking places St Vincent within the bottom 40% of A-level providers in England. Students who need the strongest grade outcomes for highly selective pathways should compare nearby alternatives carefully and ask subject-level questions at open events.

• Attendance is a stated improvement focus. The most recent inspection evidence identifies attendance as an area leaders are working to strengthen further. Families should ask how attendance is tracked, what happens when patterns slip, and how quickly support is introduced.

• Timing matters for popular programmes. The college recommends applying before the end of March to secure priority for course availability. For students set on a specific vocational or technical route, early application reduces the risk of being asked to change programme later.

• The tutorial programme is central, but still evolving. External review suggests leaders want tutorial content to be better matched to student needs. Students who benefit from structured personal development should ask what tutor time covers across the year and how it supports next steps planning.

St Vincent College suits students who want a broad post 16 offer, a clearly structured day, and a setting where inclusion is a visible strength rather than a quiet afterthought. The strongest fit is for students who will engage with support systems, use enrichment strategically, and take ownership of next steps planning, whether that is employment, apprenticeship routes, or university. Students whose primary driver is maximising top-end A-level outcomes should treat the local comparison exercise as essential and focus on department-level evidence during open events.