Overall Oxbridge
#930
4 ranked schools · -16 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
65
Offers
15
Offer rate23.1%
+0.7 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
Schools in Southampton
Medieval town walls and Victorian warehouse frontages define a port city shaped by centuries of Atlantic trade, most famously as the departure point for the RMS Titanic in 1912 and the Mayflower three centuries earlier, though much of the centre was rebuilt after the wartime bombing of the Southampton Blitz. Portswood and Swaythling extend the residential belt toward the university quarter to the northeast, popular with academic and professional families. Around 254,000 people live across the city today.
Freemantle and Shirley are among the most school-competitive districts in the city, with families actively competing for primary catchments across both areas. Winchester, to the north, draws parents seeking selective secondary provision. The city sits where the River Test meets the Itchen at the head of Southampton Water, and Southampton Central station connects to London Waterloo via the South Western Main Line while also serving Portsmouth, Winchester, and the wider coast.
110
Primary
schools
24
Secondary
schools
2
All-through
schools
2
Post-16
colleges
16
Special
schools
5
Other
schools
of which12sixth forms·29faith·1nurseries160 total
Area Performance
Southampton schools rank in the top 53% of England
Across 118 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.51/10, +0.11 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
15% Elite
Distribution across all Southampton schools
EliteExcellentGoodDevelopingRebuilding
Southampton vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 53%
Across all ranked Southampton schools
Top 53%Primaryavg #7,923 of 14,978
Top 54%Secondaryavg #2,082 of 3,862
Top 52%Sixth formavg #1,326 of 2,555
Primary schools: 80 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
+0.08 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,923
-3 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 53% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
60%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
8%
0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
+0.08 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#7,923
-3 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 53% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
60%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
8%
0 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 26 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.11 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,082
-4 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 54% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
75%
+19 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
42.7
+3.6 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.3/10
-0.11 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#2,082
-4 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 54% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
75%
+19 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
42.7
+3.6 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 12 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.6/10
+0.82 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,326
-2 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 52% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
28%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
8.6/10
+0.82 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,326
-2 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 52% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
28%
+2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#225
4 ranked schools · +28 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
Applications
32
Offers
8
Offer rate25.0%
+9.9 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#586
3 ranked schools · +187 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,880
Applications
33
Offers
7
Offer rate21.2%
-8.2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Southampton
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Southampton
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Southampton
Local directory
School profiles in Southampton
Browse 138 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
Loading map…
School Match
Not sure where to start?
Answer ten quick questions and we’ll match four schools to your child.
Explore nearby areas
Discover schools in neighbouring cities, towns and boroughs.