Wildern School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of RAISE EDUCATION TRUST

Wildern Lane, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 4EJ

01489 783473 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 23 April 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths51%England 45% · 2024/25
5th highest of 21 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 67% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,674Room for 1,900 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,927 in 2019, 1,946 in 2021, 1,955 in 2022, 1,921 in 2023, 1,869 in 2024, 1,800 in 2025, 1,674 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9266 for 292 places, September 2026
16th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 40% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 April 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

665 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 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.

StatementThis schoolSouthamptonEngland
My child is happy at this school
12th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton.
Higher than 27% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74% 80% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 11th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton.
Higher than 21% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74% 80% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton.
Higher than 18% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
59% 70% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 283 parents whose child had been bullied
10th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton.
Higher than 42% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
47% 50% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 521 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 11th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton.
Higher than 39% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
66% 71% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
12th highest of 16 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Southampton.
Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67%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.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

427 pupils in this year group.

51% — 7 points above the Hampshire average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHampshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 51% 45% 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. 48.6 45.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.3 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 46%This school 2023/24: 49%This school 2024/25: 51% This school England 45% 2022/23 46% 2023/24 49% 2024/25 51%

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.

391 pupils in this year group.

95% — 3 points above the Hampshire average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 60%27%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolHampshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 95% 92% 92%
School sixth form 1% 6% 34%
Sixth form college 60% 40% 13%
Further education college 27% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 3% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%95%

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 Hampshire. 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 one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered292
Families who put it first266
Of those, offered a place261 (98%)
Families who listed it at all592

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Hampshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHampshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
20th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
17.7% 21.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
18th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.6% 4.4%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
19th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.3% 13.8%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
14th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.6% 8.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
8th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Lower than 48% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.4% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
7th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Lower than 62% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
21.2% 21.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
19th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Lower than 19% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
34.6 20.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
19th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Lower than 26% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.2% 7.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.06% 0.09% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 12th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 30% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.9 16.4 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 12th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.0 11.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
5th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton.
Higher than 88% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
23.5% 13.2%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Wildern School's Ofsted rating?

Wildern School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 April 2024.

How did Wildern School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 51% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Wildern School?

67% of the 665 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Wildern School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Wildern School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 266 families put Wildern School as their first choice for 292 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 261 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.