Classpot

Cove School

Rushmoor, GU14 9RNSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
2 Good · 2 Requires improvement
Jan 2025
Progress 8
-0.74
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
204 1st-choice / 203 places
Ranking
#2,886
of 3,141 nationally

About Cove School

Cove School’s Progress 8 score of -0.74 places it significantly below the Hampshire local authority average of -0.17 for secondary schools, and the gap is wide enough to be meaningful. This score is classified as “well below average” nationally, and within Rushmoor, Cove ranks bottom among the three secondary schools in the borough. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 40.4, which measures average GCSE performance across eight subjects, also trails the typical Hampshire picture. For context, just 34.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 53.9% at the grade 4 threshold. The EBacc average point score of 3.59 is modest, and only 26.9% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. These headline metrics suggest that, on average, pupils at Cove make less academic progress than their peers across the county, and the school faces a clear challenge in raising attainment.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSt John's Road, Farnborough, Rushmoor, GU14 9RN
HeadteacherAndrew King
Local AuthorityHampshire
Number of Pupils1,010
Free School Meals (FSM)27.3%
School Capacity1,010 / 1,050 (96% full)

The full report on this school

What 109 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 Jan 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 26 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Playing FieldsSwimming PoolDining HallICT SuiteLibraryTheatreTennis CourtsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

AthleticsSwimmingHockeyDanceBasketballRounders

Clubs & Activities

GardeningOrchestraYoung EnterpriseDebateModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cove School

Cove School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.