Hounsdown School
About Hounsdown School
Hounsdown School is a popular choice for families in the New Forest, with 345 applications for 248 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.39. That means for every place available, nearly 1.4 families wanted it, and the school made 241 offers to first-preference applicants. While official parent satisfaction data isn't published here, the high demand suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a mixed, non-religious secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and currently educates 1,281 pupils, slightly above its official capacity of 1,215. Around 16.6% of students are eligible for free school meals, which is in line with the national average for state secondaries.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Jun 2024Source: Ofsted, 30 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: hounsdown.hants.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hounsdown 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications