Southampton schools - primary and secondary

[bunchofposy]

Hello, can anyone from Soton help me? I newly(ish) live in Bassett, and our catchment primary is North Baddesley, 2 miles down the road and unwalkable. However I am within walking distance (just) of Hollybrook infant school. Does anyone's kids go there? The Bad is an oustanding school and looks lovely... but I also love the idea of us walking/scooting to school and going to a school nearer to our house. And I also need another plan in case we're ousted by the baby boom (we're right on the catchment boundary).

Also, where do people send their kids to secondary in Soton? I can't seem to find an obvious one in our area - am I missing something? North Bad is the feeder for Mountbatten in Romsey. It would be fine for us to go down this route but I'd love to find something more local. Everything I read suggests everyone just ships out to Mountbatten which sounds quite sad. I am baptised catholic but would prefer a good non faith school.

forgot to say, any reviews of Hollybrook school would be helpful... I don't yet know any other mums to ask in the area.

I wouldn't worry about secondary schools just yet as so much can change over time. Having said that, St Anne's Catholic school has got a good reputation for girls. A friend in Romsey didn't even bother applying to Mountbatten because it's so over subscribed, but they're just as happy with Romsey school (although that's even further away for you). The Romsey schools are all Hants CC rather than Soton CC, but I'm not sure if that makes any difference when they allocate places.

I'm outside the city boundary, but I believe the primaries in Freemantle and Redbridge both have a good reputation. My DD went to an out of catchment infant school and did the same for juniors. This is just becoming an issue, as we're slightly too far away from all of her school friends to just be able to casually pop around to play, but she doesn't know anyone closer to home. Watch this space when she moves to secondary school and we're even further away.

Not quite sure where you are as you cannot be in Southampton and be Baddesley catchment : they are different LEAs
Presume you are actually Chilworth.
Agree its not walkable : lots of teh Chilworth kids go to Stroud BUT there will definitely be people sharing lifts if you do to NoBad

Hampshire secondaries are SIGNIFICANTLY better than Southampton.
If you are Baddesley catchment you are Mountbatten catchment and everybody in catchment has got in for years and years and years.
No sign of that changing even with Abbotswood coming on stream.

Hollybrook is a lovely little school : goes through phases because of slow turnover of houses. Very MC.
BUT it feeds to Cantell ....

Freemantle and Redbridge. Hmm. You've not driven past at kicking out time then.

Thanks v much for your responses. Yes I am chilworth but metres from the boundary so hollybrook is nearest by distance. am a bit... ok a lot put off by hollybrook junior being special measures ! but the infant school is ofsted good and I know a lot can change in a short time. Am guessing Cantell isnt a great choice! I have heard Bitterne park is good but guess that would be too far. I know Mountb is a great school. And I am sure you are prob right about lift sharing at northbad.

Out of interest what does MC mean?

MC = Middle class!
Do not worry about the Special Measures at Hollybrook : its a transient thing linked to house prices in the area and the impact of the secondaries.
Bitterne : yup a foul drive!
Just looking, I think there is a school bus that goes from Chilworth to Baddesley - as your houses are over the distance limit : call the school to check

Given that romsey and Mountbatten run school buses on routes into Southampton... Tells you all you need to know about southampton schools.

Tee hee.
Hence why I'm so well informed about exactly where the boundary lies!

Hi all, new to the website and will be new to Southampton soon. We’re moving to the University area and are looking at Basset, Highfield or Portswold. Please could you recommend the best secondary school. Thanks so much.

Welcome to Southampton. This thread is quite out of date and the local schools have all moved on massively since. In the past, as previous comments in this this thread reflect, I would say lots of families in those areas you named applied out of catchment, moved out of area or went private for secondary.
However, in recent years there has been a sea-change to more children from those primary schools moving into the local state schools and their reputations have really improved with local parents. All had changes in leadership that made an impact and St George’s also went co-Ed. Cantell, St George’s and St Anne’s probably get the vast majority of the kids now from the areas you named, but that was definitely not the case from some feeders in the year group 5+ years ago. Cantell now has long waiting lists and those outside catchment can struggle to get in even when attending feeder schools. It also has a strange shaped catchment so if you want that school stay east of The Avenue. West of the The Avenue the catchment is Upper Shirley High which is also over subscribed and also seems popular (but I know very little about it). Some still go private or try to go out of catchment, although it’s a lot less likely to get a place unless relocating to their catchments, (Mountbatten may still be possible but not Romsey), but that’s definitely less common now.
If you’re interested in private schools the main secondary school choices locally are King Edwards or The Gregg School. St Swithun’s is doable too.

Thanks so much. Getting used to posting on here but grateful for your response. Choosing schools when you’re from out of area is so difficult! Thanks again!

Southampton Primary schools - Bannister Park, Highfield and North Baddesley.

Hi, I know this is an old thread but was looking exactly for this info for the same area for next year

Have been to look around many of the schools from Banister Park all the way up to North Baddesley.

was hoping someone could offer some insight to these schools nowadays.

NB looks great but i don’t look forward to the 15 min drive.

Also is Cantell secondary now still improved?

The current feedback seems to be birth rates are down, making catchment much less of a problem?

any info welcome - Thanks