Southwood School
About Southwood School
Southwood School is a state primary for children aged 7 to 11 in Milton Keynes, and its intake numbers tell a clear story. With 188 pupils on roll against a capacity of 256, the school is operating at around 73% capacity, leaving significant room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 43.6%, which is notably high — well above the national average for primary schools and a strong indicator that the school serves a community with considerable socio-economic challenges. Despite this, the school appears to be in demand; its admission information suggests it is oversubscribed, meaning local families are actively choosing it over alternatives. The school has no religious character and is co-educational, reflecting a fully inclusive, non-denominational intake. Headteacher Kate Mathews leads a relatively small junior school, which may appeal to parents looking for a more contained, community-focused environment rather than a large all-through primary.
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
18 May 2023Latest monitoring visit (18 May 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 17 Jul 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
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.
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