SchoolScoresWoodlands Community College
Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of Reach Cooperative Trust
Minstead Avenue, Harefield, Southampton, SO18 5FW
023 8046 3303 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 September 2022.
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 |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
176 pupils in this year group.
16% — 23 points below the Southampton average, and 30 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 16% | 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. | 35.5 | 41.9 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.1 | 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.
127 pupils in this year group.
80% — 10 points below the Southampton average, and 12 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. | 80% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 1% | 5% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 49% | 53% | 13% |
| Further education college | 24% | 24% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 86% | 80% |
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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 180 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 192 |
| Of those, offered a place | 172 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 365 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1
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 10 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Visual impairment; Other difficulties or disabilities; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties. 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 3rd highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 55.5% | 40.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.0% | 3.8%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 9th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 17.0% | 16.5%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 9th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 66% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.3% | 27.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 21st lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 2% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 14.3% | 10.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 21st lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 35.6% | 26.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 45% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 16.5 | 24.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 20th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Lower than 22% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.1% | 9.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.11% | 0.12% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 16th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 21% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.3 | 15.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 19th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.8 | 10.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Southampton. Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3% | 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
- The Gregg School 1.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Oasis Academy Sholing 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 41% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bitterne Park School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wildern School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oasis Academy Mayfield 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- Weston Secondary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 24% grade 5+ English and maths
- Deer Park School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 69% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Anne's Catholic School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 66% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Woodlands Community College's Ofsted rating?
Woodlands Community College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 September 2022.
How did Woodlands Community College do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 16% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 30 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Woodlands Community College oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 192 families put Woodlands Community College as their first choice for 180 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 172 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 116465.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.