Best Schools in Southampton 2026 — Rankings, Ofsted Ratings & Reviews
Compare 69 schools and nurseries in Southampton — Ofsted ratings, exam results & admissions data.
Southampton has 69 schools educating over 33,000 pupils in this major port city on England's south coast. The city offers a diverse educational landscape, from high-performing academies to faith schools and specialist providers.
Bitterne Park School and Oasis Academy Lord's Hill are among the well-known secondaries. Southampton's primary schools generally perform in line with the national average, with notable strengths in certain areas of the city.
Southampton at a Glance
Top Primary Schools in Southampton
| School | Area | Ofsted | KS2 RWM % | Reading | Maths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansel Park Primary & Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools | Southampton | Good | 88% | — | — |
| Springhill Catholic Primary School | Southampton | Outstanding | 83% | — | — |
| Sinclair Primary and Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools | Southampton | Good | 80% | — | — |
| Fairisle Junior School | Southampton | Good | 78% | — | — |
| Portswood Primary School | Southampton | Good | 78% | — | — |
Top Secondary Schools in Southampton
| School | Area | Ofsted | Progress 8 | 5+ GCSE % | EBacc % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton | Southampton | Outstanding | +0.82 | 86% | 37% |
| St Anne's Catholic School | Southampton | Outstanding | +0.72 | 81% | 41% |
| Cantell School | Southampton | Outstanding | +0.21 | 66% | 22% |
| Upper Shirley High School | Southampton | Good | +0.09 | 73% | 37% |
| Bitterne Park School | Southampton | Good | -0.19 | 57% | 45% |
Admissions in Southampton — Key Dates
Southampton City Council coordinates admissions for state schools. Secondary applications closed on 31 October 2025 with offers on 1 March 2026. Primary applications close on 15 January 2026 with offers on 16 April 2026. Apply through southampton.gov.uk.
Tip: Classpot shows the applications-to-places ratio for every school so you can gauge how competitive admissions are before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best schools in Southampton?
Bitterne Park School, Oasis Academy Lord's Hill and St Anne's Catholic School are well-regarded secondaries. King Edward VI School is a leading independent. Primary schools in Bassett and Shirley achieve strong results.
Are there grammar schools in Southampton?
No. Southampton has no state grammar schools. The nearest selective schools are in Hampshire (e.g., Peter Symonds College sixth form in Winchester). Southampton operates a comprehensive system.
How are Southampton schools performing?
Southampton schools have seen improvement through academy programmes. Some schools achieve well above national averages, while others are still on an improvement trajectory.
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