Welcome to PACA!

If you are considering secondary schools for your child to start in Year 7 in September next year, you will find all the information you need to give you a real feel for life at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy on this page, and what makes our school a special place to learn.

PACA is a vibrant, inclusive school, where student’s progress and success is at the heart of all we do.  Please see PACA's Ofsted. Our students develop a love of learning, respect and help others, and relish diversity and new experiences. They build the enterprise skills and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to grasp life’s opportunities.

The deadline for making an application to secondary school is 31st October 2025. For more information click Secondary school admissions guide 2025 to 2026 (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

All transition information is available here.

PACA's admissions policies are available here.

If you would like to visit PACA for a tour please email: Transition@paca.aldridgeeducation.org . We understand that choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent.  At PACA we aim to meet and exceed your expectations of what a school should offer.  We know that your role in inspiring, supporting and helping your child to succeed is vital, and that is why we place a very high value on great home-school communication.

Best wishes

Mark Poston, Principal

Admission Policies  

 Please follow this link to access our admissions policies.

Our prospectus

Please click here to view our prospectus

We have the advantage of being both a local community school and benefiting from the support of a national educational trust, Aldridge Education.

Any questions? Want to find out more?

To arrange an informal chat with Mr Poston, please email Libby.Hurd@paca.aldridgeeducation.org 

You can also see answers to some popular questions we get asked at open evenings by clicking this link.

Applying for a place at PACA in Year 7 for September 2026

As a community academy PACA operates under the Brighton and Hove Admissions Criteria for secondary schools. When your child is due to transfer from primary to secondary school, you will have to apply for a school place through the Brighton & Hove secondary schools admissions process. The deadline to apply for a school place is 31st October 2026. 

For more information, please contact the Schools Admissions Team, at Brighton & Hove Council:

Tel: 01273 293653

Email: schooladmissions@brighton-hove.gov.uk 

Alternatively you can visit the Brighton & Hove Council website

You can download the pupil registration form here.

Download our Admissions policy on our policy page here: Portslade Aldridge Community Academy (PACA) - Policies and Statutory Information 

The pupil admission number for the school is 220.
Click here to read the guide to Secondary School Admissions

Appeals 

All applicants who have applied for a Secondary place at the academy and have been refused have a right to appeal that decision to an Independent Appeal Panel.  Full details on the appeals process, timetable and booklet for parents is available on Brighton and Hove website – see link below:

Appeal a school place decision (brighton-hove.gov.uk)

The timeframe and stages within the appeals process will be indicated by the local authority (Brighton and Hove Council).