Portsmouth High School GDST
Part of the Girls' Day School Trust and founded in 1882, Portsmouth High School educates girls from age 3 through to 19. With roughly 499 pupils, it is a small school, and its pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 10 points to small classes and close attention. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated it excellent for both education quality and personal development, with all compliance standards met. Sarah Parker leads the school.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
57%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
50%
National average 28%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 3 February 2026
Teaching & academics
At A-level, half of all entries reach A* or A, and the sixth form of around 74 pupils favours sciences alongside humanities and social sciences, with Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, History and Psychology all popular choices. At GCSE, 57% of grades fall in the 9-7 range. The school offers a broad qualification mix including GCSE, A-level, BTEC and the EPQ, and just over a fifth of pupils receive SEN support.
GCSE subjects
Head · Sarah Parker
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 74
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport centres on netball, hockey, cricket and football, and scholarships are offered across music, art, sport, drama and academics, signalling strength in these areas. The breadth of GCSE options, from drama and music to computer studies and design and technology, gives girls plenty of room to pursue creative and practical interests.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1882
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 20.95%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils are permitted to have a mobile phone in the senior school, but when and where it can be used is controlled and limited
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £19,953 - £20,895
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Means-tested bursaries available up to 100%
Schools nearby
Portsmouth High Prep School
Southsea, South East
The Portsmouth Grammar School
Portsmouth, South East
Mayville High School
Southsea, South East
Madani Academy
Portsmouth, South East
Ryde School with Upper Chine
Ryde, South East
All's Well
Fareham, South East
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A small, long-established girls' school with strong A-level outcomes and an excellent ISI verdict. Day fees sit around £20,000, though means-tested bursaries of up to 100% can open the door wider.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
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Portsmouth High School GDST 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.