Springfield School, Portsmouth Review 2026: Solid Outcomes and Strong Local Demand

Set in the residential area of Drayton, Springfield School serves a wide catchment across northern Portsmouth. As a large, mixed secondary school with a capacity for over 1,100 students, it functions as a central pillar of the local educational landscape. The school is a founding member of The De Curci Trust, a move that brought increased stability and a shared curriculum framework with local partners.

Academic performance at Springfield is consistent, with results typically aligning with the middle 35% of schools in England. This "national typical" standing reflects a school that successfully manages a large, diverse cohort of students aged 11 to 16. Leadership has remained stable under Headteacher Sara Spivey, who has led the school since 2013 and became a Director of the trust in 2017. Her long tenure has fostered a clear sense of identity and a steady trajectory of improvement, as evidenced by the most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025, which confirmed the school remains Good.

The school occupies a spacious campus on Central Road, characterized by a mix of traditional buildings and more recent specialist additions. The atmosphere during lesson transitions is purposeful; students move with a sense of direction, and the supervised social spaces are lively without becoming chaotic.

Springfield operates with a clearly defined house system, which serves as the primary vehicle for pastoral support and internal competition. This structure helps a large school feel more manageable for individual students, providing a smaller community identity within the wider institution. The school values, centered on respect and aspiration, are integrated into the daily rewards system, which celebrates both academic progress and contributions to school life.

The 2025 Ofsted inspection confirmed that students feel safe and well supported. Observations highlight that behaviour is generally calm, underpinned by a clear set of expectations that staff apply consistently. There is a visible culture of mutual respect between students and teachers, which supports a productive learning environment.

Springfield School consistently produces solid academic outcomes for its students. In the latest measurement period, the school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 43.7. While this is slightly below the broader England average for all schools, it represents a competitive performance within the local Portsmouth context.

The school ranks 2,285th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and ranks 4th among secondary schools in Portsmouth. This placement reflects a solid, reliable performance that meets the needs of its broad intake. The Progress 8 score of -0.05 indicates that students make progress that is broadly in line with their peers of similar starting points across England.

In terms of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), 13.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above across the core subjects. This indicates a curriculum that remains focused on a traditional academic core while allowing for vocational breadth in the elective blocks.

The curriculum at Springfield is designed to be broad and balanced, transitioning from a wide-ranging Key Stage 3 into a more specialized Key Stage 4. Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge, and departments are well resourced, particularly in the core areas of English and Mathematics.

In recent years, the school has focused on developing metacognition (learning how to learn) across all year groups. This involves teaching students specific revision strategies and memory techniques early in their secondary career, rather than waiting until the approach of GCSE exams. This methodical approach to study skills is a hallmark of the school's academic strategy.

The school also offers a variety of vocational options alongside traditional GCSEs, including BTEC qualifications in subjects such as Sport and Health and Social Care. This dual pathway ensures that the curriculum remains accessible and relevant to students with different career aspirations.

Where Students Go Next

As a school for 11 to 16-year-olds, the transition at the end of Year 11 is a critical focus. Springfield does not have its own sixth form, so students move on to various local providers. A significant number of students progress to Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) or City of Portsmouth College to pursue A-levels and T-levels.

The school provides a structured careers programme from Year 7 onwards, which includes mock interviews and regular visits from local employers and colleges. This ensures that by the time students reach their final year, they are well informed about their post-16 options. Transition support is particularly strong for students with additional needs, with staff working closely with receiving colleges to ensure a smooth handover of support plans.

Springfield School is a highly sought-after choice in northern Portsmouth and is consistently oversubscribed. For the most recent intake, there were 396 applications for 239 available places. This creates a subscription proportion of 1.66, meaning there are significantly more applicants than there are desks available.

Admissions are coordinated by Portsmouth City Council. Priority is given to looked-after children, those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school, and siblings of current students. Following these categories, places are allocated based on the school's designated catchment area and then by distance.

Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to previous years' intake patterns. Securing a place from outside the immediate catchment area can be challenging given the high volume of first-preference applications.

Pastoral care is organized through the house system, with each student assigned a tutor who acts as the first point of contact for both academic and personal matters. The school has a dedicated pastoral hub where students can go if they need support during the school day.

Wellbeing is integrated into the PSHE curriculum, which covers topics ranging from mental health awareness to online safety. The school also employs a dedicated safeguarding team and maintains strong links with external support agencies in Portsmouth. For students requiring more intensive emotional support, the school provides access to a trained counsellor and specialized small-group sessions.

The extracurricular life at Springfield is active and varied. Sport is a significant pillar of the school's identity, with facilities including a large sports hall and extensive playing fields. The school fields competitive teams in football, netball, and athletics, often performing well in Portsmouth city leagues.

STEM: Innovation and Technology

STEM subjects are a clear area of strength. The school runs a popular Robotics Club where students design and build programmable units for local competitions. The Science department also hosts an annual Science Week featuring visiting speakers and hands-on experiments that go beyond the standard curriculum.

The Creative Arts are equally well represented. The Springfield Choir and various instrumental ensembles perform at local venues, and the annual school production (recently a production of The Addams Family) is a major event involving students from all year groups.

Fees & Financial Aid

This is a state school with no tuition fees. As part of The De Curci Trust, it is publicly funded. Families may need to account for associated costs such as school uniform, optional educational trips, and peripatetic music lessons. Financial support is available for eligible families via the Pupil Premium, which provides additional funding to support the learning and development of disadvantaged students.

The school day at Springfield begins at 8:35am (students are expected on site by 8:30am) and the official end of the day is 2:45pm. This allows for a Period 6 which runs until 3:00pm or later for clubs, sporting activities, and GCSE revision. While there is no formal wraparound care for secondary students, homework support is available during lunchtimes and after school.

The school is well served by local transport links. Several bus routes pass near the school on the A27, and it is within walking distance for many families in Drayton and Farlington. For those cycling, the school provides secure bike storage on site. Parents are encouraged to use walking or cycling routes where possible to ease congestion on Central Road during drop-off and pick-up times.

• Oversubscription: Springfield is a very popular choice. With nearly 1.7 applications for every available place, families living outside the immediate catchment area may find it difficult to secure a spot. It is essential to have a viable second-choice school on the application form.
• No Sixth Form: Because the school ends at Year 11, students must prepare for a significant transition at age 16. While the school provides excellent careers guidance, families should consider if their child will thrive in a larger college environment after leaving Springfield.
• Large School Environment: With over 1,100 students, the school is large and busy. While the house system helps to create smaller communities, the physical scale of the school may be overwhelming for students who prefer a more intimate, small-scale setting.

Springfield School is a robust and reliable choice that delivers consistent academic results within a supportive community framework. Its standing as the 4th ranked school in Portsmouth makes it a top-tier option for local state education. It is best suited to students who want a traditional secondary experience with a broad range of extracurricular opportunities and who are ready to move on to a larger college at 16. The main challenge for families is the high level of competition for places.