Admiral Lord Nelson School is a co‑educational secondary academy in Portsmouth, serving students aged 11–16. The school opened in 1995 and moved to its architectural award-winning site on the eastern edge of the city in 1997, adjacent to Langstone Harbour. Named after Vice‑Admiral Horatio Nelson, the school maintains strong links with the city’s naval heritage and local community.
The school converted to academy status on 1 April 2014 and is the founding school of the Salterns Academy Trust, which now includes three Portsmouth schools. Since joining the Trust, the school has contributed to the development of shared approaches to inclusion, curriculum quality and staff development.
Admiral Lord Nelson School operates from a fully accessible campus, including lifts throughout the building, specialist teaching spaces, sports hall, dance studio, fitness suite and a full‑size AstroTurf pitch that is also used by the wider community.
The school has maintained a Good Ofsted judgement throughout its history and most recently achieved the Expected Standard in all categories in June 2026. With an excellent reputation in the local community, it is consistently oversubscribed and highly regarded for its broad and ambitious curriculum, rich personal development offer, inclusive ethos, and strong commitment to working in partnership with families and the wider community.
School Vacancies
If you share our passion for great education and want to come and join Admiral Lord Nelson School, vacancies are advertised on the school’s website as well as on the trust website
View School VacanciesAdmission Arrangements
The school is rated Good by Ofsted. The school is student-centred and has high aspirations for all, a creative and engaging curriculum, and an inclusive approach caring for the wellbeing of every student. We look forward to seeing you an one of our Open Days. More information on admissions is on the school’s website.
View Admission ArrangementPupils benefit from a rich and ambitious curriculum that prepares them well for life beyond school
Pupils have positive relationships with staff and each other. This leads to a calm and orderly environment where pupils are ready to learn.
Careers education is highly effective. Pupils meet a range of employers and education providers across their time at the school
Pupils at Admiral Lord Nelson School live up to the school’s ethos of ‘Dare to dream, aim to achieve’.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, pupils are made safer and feel safe
The ambitious curriculum ensures that pupils are well prepared for their next steps. A high number move on to appropriate destinations in education, employment or training
