Cams Hill School
117%
Capacity
1,237
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Cams Hill School
Cams Hill School is a mixed 11-16 secondary in Fareham that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local standing. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 483 applications for 267 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.81, with 263 offers going to first-preference families. The school currently has 1,237 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,056, meaning it is operating well above its official number. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.4%, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively less deprived intake compared with many state secondaries. The school has no religious character and is a straightforward community comprehensive, overseen by headteacher Ian Hudson. It does not have a sixth form, so all pupils leave at 16.
Academically, Cams Hill performs solidly. Its Progress 8 score of -0.08 is classed as 'Average' and is notably above the Hampshire local authority average of -0.17. The Attainment 8 score of 51.7 is respectable, and 60.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 95 measure), compared with 81.7% achieving a grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.41, though only 14.8% of pupils entered the full EBacc suite of subjects. In its most recent graded inspection in 2019, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with Good in all categories including quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership. A subsequent ungraded inspection in December 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained. The school previously held an Outstanding rating from 2011.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, art studios, an ICT suite, astro turf, a sports hall, and tennis courts. Clubs and activities are plentiful, with options ranging from coding and science club to Model UN, chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Sports provision includes rugby, cricket, gymnastics, dance, and martial arts. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of needs including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities, and it also has a resourced provision. Parent View responses from 235 parents were overwhelmingly positive: 90% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and that the school has high expectations. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-subscribed, high-demand comprehensive with strong core outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Shearwater Avenue, Fareham, Fareham, PO16 8AH |
| Headteacher | Ian Hudson |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,237 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,237 / 1,056 (117% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (4 Dec 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 18 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1727th of 3,141
Nationally
268th of 461
In South East
1st of 4
In Fareham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/234%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 228 pupils).
- FE college41%
- Sixth form college39%
- Apprenticeship8%
- School sixth form (stay)4%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained3%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
235 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed267
483
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
268 families put this school as their 1st choice (55% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British86.8%
- Mixed4.5%
- Asian3.9%
- White (other)2.7%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cams Hill School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Shearwater Avenue, Fareham
Fareham, PO16 8AH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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