Redbridge Community School
101%
Capacity
1,120
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Redbridge Community School
Redbridge Community School in Southampton is a secondary school that is currently oversubscribed, a clear signal of local demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 261 applications for 199 places, with 174 of those coming as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.31. The school is operating at near full capacity, with 1,120 pupils on roll against a stated capacity of 1,112. Its intake is notably different from the national average when it comes to disadvantage: 55.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure that is significantly higher than the national secondary average. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form or nursery provision. It is led by headteachers Emily, Alex Bell, and Hoyle, and was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in 2023.
Academically, the school's results are below the local average, and this is reflected in its ranking. Redbridge's Progress 8 score is -0.99, which is well below the average for Southampton local authority of -0.26, and places it 11th out of 11 secondary schools in the area. Its Attainment 8 score is 32.2, and 38% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared to 17.4% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 2.73, with 26.8% of pupils entering the EBacc and 12.2% achieving it at grade 4 or above. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 5% for Progress 8, at 3,011 out of 3,141 schools. However, the Ofsted inspection noted that personal development is Outstanding, while behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and quality of education are all rated Good.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, science labs, art studios, music rooms, and a sports hall. Sports on offer include football, basketball, cricket, swimming, gymnastics, badminton, rowing, netball, and dance, while clubs range from Film Club and Coding to Chess, Gardening, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and Debate. For families with children who have special educational needs, Redbridge has a dedicated SEN Unit and supports a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Given its oversubscribed status, parents should be aware that securing a place is competitive. This school is likely to suit families who value a strong focus on personal development and a wide extracurricular offer, and who are comfortable with a school that serves a high proportion of disadvantaged pupils and has academic outcomes below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Cuckmere Lane, Southampton, Southampton, SO16 9RJ |
| Headteacher | Emily/ Alex Bell/ Hoyle |
| Local Authority | Southampton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,120 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 55.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,120 / 1,112 (101% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Sept 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.99)
3011th of 3,141
Nationally
441st of 461
In South East
11th of 11
In Southampton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
2022/2335%
of GCSE leavers continue at FE college (cohort: 210 pupils).
- Sixth form college35%
- FE college35%
- Not sustained14%
- Employment10%
- Apprenticeship5%
85% 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
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed199
261
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
174 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 14:45
Breakfast club
07:45-08:40
Source: redbridgecommunityschool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.5%
- White (other)6.4%
- Mixed4.3%
- Asian2.7%
- 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.
75% 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
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 Redbridge Community 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
Cuckmere Lane, Southampton
Southampton, SO16 9RJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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