SchoolScoresUpper Shirley High School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of HAMWIC EDUCATION TRUST
Bellemoor Road, Upper Shirley, Southampton, SO15 7QU
023 8032 5333 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 October 2019.
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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 January 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
151 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 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 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 80% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 4th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 52% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 80% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 4th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 53% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 70% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 58 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 6th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 71% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 116 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 62% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 71% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 28 parents of children with SEND 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 21% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 56% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 3rd highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton. Higher than 70% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87%said yes | 76% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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
217 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. | 47 | 41.9 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.1 | 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.
180 pupils in this year group.
92% — 2 points above the Southampton average, and about the same as 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. | 92% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 5% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 67% | 53% | 13% |
| Further education college | 22% | 24% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 96% | 92% |
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 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 215 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 248 |
| Of those, offered a place | 197 (79%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 559 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.2
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
| Pupils | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 14th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.8% | 40.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 17th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.9% | 3.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 21st highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 25% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4% | 16.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.8% | 27.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 51% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.3% | 10.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 65% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 20.5% | 26.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.9 | 24.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.3% | 9.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.37% | 0.12% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 41% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.4 | 15.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4 | 10.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 19th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 14% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 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.
Nearby secondary schools
- Richard Taunton Sixth Form College 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · D average A level grade
- King Edward VI School 0.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 52% A*/A at A level
- Regents Park Community College 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Mark's CofE School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- St Anne's Catholic School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 66% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Lord's Hill 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Inadequate (2024) · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Cantell School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
- Redbridge Community School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 69% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bitterne Park School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Upper Shirley High School's Ofsted rating?
Upper Shirley High School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 October 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Upper Shirley High 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 Upper Shirley High School?
87% of the 151 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Upper Shirley High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Upper Shirley High School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 248 families put Upper Shirley High School as their first choice for 215 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 197 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 137037.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 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.