Cantell School
103%
Capacity
1,288
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About Cantell School
Cantell School is clearly a popular choice among Southampton families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 682 applications for 241 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.83, meaning nearly three families applied for every available spot. Of those 682 applicants, 325 put Cantell as their first preference, and 226 of those first-preference families received an offer. This level of demand suggests strong local confidence in the school. While the data doesn't include a formal parent-view survey percentage, the sheer volume of applications — more than double the number of places — is a practical signal that many families in the area see Cantell as their top choice. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Harry Kutty.
Academically, Cantell performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.21 is rated 'Above average' nationally, and it sits well above the Southampton local authority average of -0.26. In the 2023/24 exams, 66.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and 45.8% achieved a grade 5 or above. The Attainment 8 score was 45.6, and the EBacc average point score was 3.85. Cantell ranks 3rd out of 11 secondary schools in Southampton on Progress 8, placing it in the top third locally. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024, the school was rated Outstanding across all four categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is an upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2013, and it is one of only three Outstanding-rated secondary schools in the local authority.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, science labs, art studios, and music rooms. Sports on offer include rowing, gymnastics, hockey, and cricket, while clubs range from Model UN and coding to eco club and film club. Cantell has a substantial SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 43.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is oversubscribed, so families applying will need to be strategic. Cantell suits families who want a high-performing, inclusive state secondary with strong academic progress and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are comfortable that it does not have a sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Violet Road, Southampton, Southampton, SO16 3GJ |
| Headteacher | Harry Kutty |
| Local Authority | Southampton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,288 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 43.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,288 / 1,250 (103% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 13 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.21)
1051st of 3,141
Nationally
166th of 461
In South East
3rd of 11
In Southampton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 226 pupils).
- Sixth form college55%
- FE college26%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment4%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
- Apprenticeship1%
86% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed241
682
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
325 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% 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 75% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian34.1%
- White British33.1%
- White (other)11.5%
- Mixed8.3%
- Black0.3%
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.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
4
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 Cantell 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
Violet Road, Southampton
Southampton, SO16 3GJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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