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Bishop Philip visits The Marist
20/01/2026

Bishop Philip writes about his visit to The Marist, Ascot Last Thursday, I made a visitation of the Marist school in Ascot, an independent Catholic girls’ school that offers education [...]

Columbans launch schools competition (closing date 14 February)
05/01/2026

The Columbans in Britain have launched their next Schools Competition 2025/26, which has the theme: Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is.” It is a [...]

St Mary’s Primary School, Maidenhead perform at Windsor Castle
05/01/2026

On Monday 8th December, St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Maidenhead Lower Junior Choir, had the opportunity to perform at Windsor Castle for all the visitors. The children were supported [...]

The Diocese of Portsmouth is home to 68 Catholic Schools across several sectors:
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There are approximately 30,000 children and young people in the seventy Catholic schools of the Diocese of Portsmouth.

In the Diocese there is one first school, forty five primary schools, one middle school, eight secondary schools, one all-through school and twelve independent schools. The children and young people in our schools are central to the life of the diocese. The Catholic Academies and Schools Office works to ensure that our schools have the teachings of Christ and his Church at their centre enabling pupils to receive the very best educational opportunities and life fulfilling experiences “in order that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

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All schools, whether maintained or independent, are divided into geographical partnership areas; many of which are named after a patron saint. The partnerships work together to share good practice, support one another and foster a sense of belonging. Many of the partnership areas share their name with the Catholic Academy Trust that schools in that area will join if they wish or are directed to become an Academy.

Portsmouth Diocese is located in southern England working with 13 local education authorities, including Hampshire, Southampton, Oxford and Portsmouth, as well as the States of Guernsey and Jersey.

52% of the pupils are Catholic with the rest coming from other Christian traditions (27%), other faiths (8%) or none (13%). We are blessed with pupils and staff from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We welcome and value them all.

In Portsmouth Diocese the work of the schools come under the Vicariate for Education and Chaplaincy which is led by Canon PJ Smith, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Chaplaincy.