The Romsey School
96%
Capacity
1,130
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About The Romsey School
Parents considering The Romsey School will be reassured by the strong vote of confidence from local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 538 applications for 242 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.22, meaning more than two families applied for every available spot. Of those applications, 245 were first-preference choices, and 221 of those were successful. This level of demand suggests the school has a solid reputation in the Test Valley area. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It currently has 1,130 pupils on roll, just shy of its capacity of 1,173. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school retained its Good rating overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. The previous graded inspection in 2017 also rated the school Good, so there is a consistent track record of quality.
Academically, The Romsey School performs broadly in line with the national average. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.13, which places it in the 'Average' banding nationally. This is slightly above the Hampshire local authority average of -0.17, so pupils here make progress comparable to or a little better than peers across the county. The Attainment 8 score stands at 48.4, and 55.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school's EBacc average point score is 4.51, with 61.4% of pupils entered for the EBacc combination of subjects. In the Test Valley area, the school ranks 4th out of 5 schools by Progress 8, and 32nd out of 80 similar schools across Hampshire. Nationally, it sits in the 59th percentile, meaning it outperforms just under three-fifths of schools.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cricket, rugby, swimming, dance, and martial arts, while clubs range from choir and drama to coding, chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. For families with children who have additional needs, the school provides for a broad spectrum of SEND, including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and hearing or visual impairments. It also has a resourced provision. With 19.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. This is a solid, well-regarded local secondary that suits families seeking a good all-round education within a supportive community, though those prioritising the highest academic rankings may want to compare it with higher-performing peers in the area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Greatbridge Road, Romsey, Test Valley, SO51 8ZB |
| Headteacher | Annie Eagle |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,130 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,130 / 1,173 (96% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
21 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (21 Jun 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 5 Jul 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.13)
1861st of 3,141
Nationally
285th of 461
In South East
4th of 5
In Test Valley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
2022/233%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 239 pupils).
- Sixth form college60%
- FE college24%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- School sixth form (stay)3%
- Employment3%
93% 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
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed242
538
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
245 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.6%
- White (other)6.0%
- Asian5.0%
- Mixed4.6%
- Black0.3%
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.
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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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 The Romsey 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
Greatbridge Road, Romsey
Test Valley, SO51 8ZB
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