Southampton secondary schools

[Mudandsnails]

Hi.

I wonder if anyone can help me out - what are the good secondary schools in Southampton? By that I mean balanced schools that support and encourage pupils to achieve their best, while helping them learn to manage pressure, look after themselves etc. Any thoughts?

I've heard Cantell is becoming a better school, but I'd be interested to hear the opinions of anyone with insider info on that.

For context, I've been in Soton a while, but have no experience of the schools (yet). Need to move, but want to move only once! And ideally somewhere close to the common!

Thanks

If you're looking near the common area of southampton then you'd look at upper Shirley high, regents park or king edwards(private grammar school though) you could also consider st marks but it has not been open long for senior school admissions

Thanks for that :)
Do you know much about Upper Shirley or Regents Park? I'm not sure we'd be able to stretch to King Edwards..

If you have girls, the only real choice is St Anne’s. It’s the only school in Southampton that is consistently Ofsted outstanding (last inspection September 2022) and has been for 25 years. It’s a truly brilliant school. I’m an alumnus; the current head was my tutor when he was an NQT!

If you have girls then St Annes's in Bedford Place is well regarded.

Upper Shirley High is probably your best bet near to the common and Upper Shirley is a nice area to live.

We looked around Cantell but it wasn't for us, however a lot of neighbours did send children there in recent years and have been very positive about the experience.

In DS1's year a lot of parents moved in year 5/6 to Chandlers Ford/Winchester to be in the catchment for Thornden or Kings. Not sure if that's an option.

Thanks for your thoughts. We have boys so St Anne's not an option. I've heard good things about St George but kids are not baptised.

We have considered moving to Winchester, but it seems so sad to have to do that just for a school when our lives are in Southampton!

A few applied to Romsey school and got in from Southampton catchment. It's a longer bus journey but an alternative to moving.

No direct knowledge of St George's as never went to the open evening. Think it's had an uplift in reputation in recent years.

yes, it certainly seems to have had. I don't have much to go on other than occasional whispers and the government held attainment data. But I don't want to fall into the trap of simplifying a school's culture and achievements to data!

I don't know much about regents park or ush. I am relatively newish to the area. My ds will start yr 7 next year so we'll be attending the open days/evenings for them this coming September. My sons current primary feeds in to both schools

The trouble with secondary schools in central Southampton is that they all go through phases, both good and bad. St Anne's is the only state school I can think of which is consistently well regarded but as you have boys thats not helpful!

Not sure what age your children are but I really wouldn't be too concerned unless they in the last years of primary as so much can change.

Can offer loads of advice regarding Primary schools in and around the common.

Central Southampton has loads of great Primary schools and catchment 6th form
Colleges. It's the first five senior years which are difficult.

If you want a transition between primary and secondary schools around the common in a family friendly area

Hollybrook (areas of Bassett) and Shirley Primary will feed into Upper Shirley High school.

Highfield and Portswood feed into Cantell although a lot of University staff and hospital staff will go private after both. Normally King Edwards.

So if you are looking for a life plan without private schools I'd go for Hollybrook/Shirley followed by Upper Shirley High.

Then the choice of Barton Peverille or Peter Symonds for 6th form. Most of central Southampton go for Barton because of the bus routes.

Hope this helps

You asked for specific information about Cantell. I have no personal experience of the school but know quite a few families with children having gone there or there now.

Some time ago, well before the new head, very few children at one of the catchment primaries named above would go there. (From my child’s year group almost 10 years ago, less than 5). As someone stated above, families would move away, send out of catchment (Romsey etc) or go to one of several private schools. This seems to have changed significantly. The majority now seem to go to Cantell and some even struggle to get a place, I know of several people living nearby but just out of catchment that were very upset they didn’t get in as the school is so oversubscribed. This turn around does seem to be related to the change of head.

Ive also only ever heard parents who are there talk in glowing terms about the school. From parents of the high achievers who get lots of encouragement and extension and access to subject/activities and very happy there, parents describing how the school encouragement has given their child confidence in their school work that they never had before, to parent of child who really struggled at primary but is flourishing there with the support and doing so well. Communication with parents is also often praised as are teachers.

I would say perceptions are changing, and it’s definitely worth finding parents with older children who are there and asking them.

This thread just prompted me to check Cantell’s recent social media as I know it posts a lot. Spotted they had a recent ungraded Ofsted inspection that indicated the school may be judged outstanding next time. Things really do seem to have changed.
https://www.cantell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Letter-to-Parents-re-Ofsted-Report-9.3.23.pdf

@CasparBloomberg I think our children may have gone to the same school or neighbouring as that was my experience of Cantell locally.

Schools in Southampton really do seem to do big ups and downs. I think in DS1's class anyone applying for a state school was St George.

The majority went for KES or Gregg but now 6 years ago !

Seems the primary and 6th form schools remain consistent but secondary schools fluctuate.

If you're willing to travel a little outside of Southampton then Hounsdown School in Totton is good and also has an outstanding rating. I work in schools throughout Hampshire and Hounsdown is well thought of amongst my team.

I've heard really positive things about Cantell in recent years too - I used to teach in a Southampton Primary school.

on the upper west side, Mountbatten and Romsey are still taking quite a few Southampton students. There are buses. But - it’s not guaranteed place.