Swaythling Primary School
100%
Capacity
209
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About Swaythling Primary School
Swaythling Primary School has a strong parent community, with 86% of respondents to the Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. This is based on 59 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 86 applications for just 28 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.07. Of those, 27 families put it as their first preference, and 25 received an offer. Parents report high levels of happiness and safety, with 69% strongly agreeing their child is happy and 64% strongly agreeing their child feels safe. However, the picture is more mixed on SEND support: while 42% strongly agree that children with SEND get the support they need, 21% strongly disagree, suggesting some families feel provision falls short.
Academically, Swaythling performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Southampton local authority average of 55%. This places the school 9th out of 42 primary schools in the LA, and 13th when including all types. Nationally, it sits in the top 38% of schools. Average scores in reading and maths were both 106, and 15% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2016, rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in January 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained.
The school offers a range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, sensory room, playing fields and a chapel. Sports include dance, rounders, athletics and football, while clubs cover drama, eco club and choir. SEND provisions are listed for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 38.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is a state primary for mixed gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form. Given its strong academic results and high demand for places, this school will suit families who prioritise a well-regarded local option and are comfortable with a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Mayfield Road, Southampton, Southampton, SO17 3SZ |
| Headteacher | John Draper |
| Local Authority | Southampton |
| Number of Pupils | 209 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.8% |
| School Capacity | 209 / 210 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Jan 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 5 Sept 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (67%)
5206th of 13,686
Nationally
721st of 2,034
In South East
9th of 42
In Southampton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
67%
Expected Standard
15%
Higher Standard
'22/23
55%
'23/24
67%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
59 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed28
86
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
27 families put this school as their 1st choice (31% 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.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British36.8%
- Asian24.5%
- White (other)20.1%
- Mixed11.4%
- Black1.4%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
10
Total schools
9
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 Swaythling Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Mayfield Road, Southampton
Southampton, SO17 3SZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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