1
Cantell School
Southampton • Hampshire • SO16 3GJ
1
13 May 2024
Top 10 Secondary schools in Southampton
Updated for the latest inspections (median graded year: 2023)
This Top 10 showcases secondary schools in the town of Southampton. It’s built from the latest graded Ofsted inspections. We rank Outstanding (grade 1) above Good (grade 2), then prioritise newer inspections. As tie-breakers, we consider the “Quality of education” sub-judgement (where available), then %FSM and school size.
Total secondary schools
21
Outstanding
3
Good
14
Median inspection year
2023
Ofsted grade mix (graded schools)
O: 15% · G: 70% · RI: 10% · I: 5%
2
Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton
Southampton • Hampshire • SO16 3DQ
1
19 Sep 2023
3
St Anne's Catholic School
Southampton • Hampshire • SO15 2WZ
1
19 Apr 2016
4
Hounsdown School
Southampton • Hampshire • SO40 9FT
2
30 Jun 2024
5
Bitterne Park School
Southampton • Hampshire • SO18 1BU
2
18 Jun 2024
6
Wildern School
Southampton • Hampshire • SO30 4EJ
2
23 May 2024
7
Oasis Academy Mayfield
Southampton • Hampshire • SO19 9NA
2
23 May 2024
8
Deer Park School
Southampton • Hampshire • SO30 2HT
2
28 Jan 2024
9
The New Forest Academy
Southampton • Hampshire • SO45 2PA
2
12 Nov 2023
10
Redbridge Community School
Southampton • Hampshire • SO16 9RJ
2
14 Sep 2023
How we rank these schools
- Headline Ofsted grade: Outstanding (1) outranks Good (2), then RI (3), then Inadequate (4).
- More recent graded inspection dates rank higher.
- Where available, we use the Quality of education sub-judgement as a tie-breaker.
- Lower free school meals (%) may break remaining ties.
- Larger roll (pupil count) is a final tie-breaker.
Only the ten highest-ranked schools are shown; we also list “near misses” just below.
About Ofsted grades
- Outstanding (1): Highest judgement across key areas.
- Good (2): Strong effectiveness; meets standards consistently.
- Requires improvement (3): Not yet good; clear areas to improve.
- Inadequate (4): Significant weaknesses found.
Ungraded Section 8 visits check whether the previous graded judgement still stands, but they don’t replace it.
Data freshness & coverage
We refresh inspections and school snapshots regularly. If a school was inspected very recently, its report may not yet appear here.
Top-10 pages only appear for areas with at least 10 secondary schools that have a graded Ofsted inspection.
Map of the Top 10
Also highly rated nearby
- Woodlands Community College 2 • Oct 2022
- Upper Shirley High School 2 • Nov 2019
- Regents Park Community College 2 • Dec 2018
- Testwood School 2 • Jul 2015
- Swanmore College 2 • Mar 2014
- Noadswood School 2 • Jul 2013
- Brookfield Community School 2 • Nov 2010
- Weston Secondary School 3 • Mar 2024
- The Hamble School 3 • Nov 2022
- Oasis Academy Lord's Hill 4 • Jul 2024