SchoolScoresCantell School
Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of Aspire Community Trust
Violet Road, Bassett, Southampton, SO16 3GJ
023 8032 3111 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 26 March 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
169 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Southampton comparisons use the 16 of its 24 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 79% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 80% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 61% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 80% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 86% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 70% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 67 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 97% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 50% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 131 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 94% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 71% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 80% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90%said yes | 76% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Southampton figures pool parents at the Southampton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
248 pupils in this year group.
49% — 10 points above the Southampton average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49% | 39% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 46.9 | 41.9 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.2 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
229 pupils in this year group.
87% — 3 points below the Southampton average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 5% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 61% | 53% | 13% |
| Further education college | 21% | 24% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 87% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Southampton. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 239 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 318 |
| Of those, offered a place | 225 (71%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 682 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.3
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 29 places for other difficulties or disabilities. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 43.5% | 40.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 79% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.0% | 16.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 41.7% | 27.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 62% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.6% | 10.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 72% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 18.7% | 26.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 47% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 15.8 | 24.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 11th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.9% | 9.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.31% | 0.12% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 19th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 14% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.8 | 15.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 18th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 17% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2 | 10.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 18th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 14% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.5% | 15.4%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 69% grade 5+ English and maths
- Richard Taunton Sixth Form College 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · D average A level grade
- Upper Shirley High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
- King Edward VI School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 52% A*/A at A level
- Bitterne Park School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Anne's Catholic School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 66% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Gregg School 1.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Mark's CofE School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Regents Park Community College 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Lord's Hill 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2024) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Cantell School's Ofsted rating?
Cantell School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 March 2024.
How did Cantell School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Cantell School?
90% of the 169 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Cantell School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Cantell School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 318 families put Cantell School as their first choice for 239 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 225 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 116469.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.