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catchment.school

Priory School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Priory School is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Southsea, Portsmouth , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1247 pupils, and a capacity of 1250 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-16

Age range

1,247

Pupils

1,250

Capacity

100%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2022

Priory School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Priory School?

The catchment area for Priory School is the geographic zone Portsmouth uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Portsmouth publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Priory School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Portsmouth. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Operating near capacity: 100% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Priory School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Portsmouth before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Portsmouth catchment area documents →

Priory School: at or above its 1250 place limit

Priory School has a published admission number of 1250 places. 1247 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 100%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1250 places. Portsmouth allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 34.2% of pupils at Priory School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Portsmouth.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Portsmouth publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Portsmouth school admissions →

Priory School: School Information

Full address
Fawcett Road, Southsea, PO4 0DL
Local authority
Portsmouth
School type
Academy sponsor led
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Free school meals
34.2% of pupils
DfE URN
141175

Other Secondary Schools in Southsea

If Priory School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Southsea are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Priory School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Priory School

What is the catchment area for Priory School?

The catchment area for Priory School is the geographic zone Portsmouth uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Portsmouth publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Priory School oversubscribed?

Priory School is operating close to its capacity of 1250 places (100% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Priory School?

Admission to Priory School is managed by Portsmouth. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Priory School cover?

Priory School is a secondary school in Southsea, Portsmouth, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Priory School?

Priory School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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