Upper Shirley High School
109%
Capacity
1,081
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Upper Shirley High School
Upper Shirley High School, a mixed state secondary in Southampton for pupils aged 11 to 16, holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2019, with a subsequent ungraded visit in January 2025 confirming that standards are being maintained. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.09, which places the school comfortably above the local authority average of -0.26 and ranks it 4th out of 11 secondary schools in Southampton. This positive progress score means that, on average, pupils achieve slightly better than expected across their eight best GCSE subjects compared with students nationally with similar starting points. The school's Attainment 8 score of 49.2 translates to roughly five strong passes per pupil, while 57.6% of students achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths, a key benchmark for future study.
Ofsted rated every category as Good, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The school's Progress 8 banding is officially classed as Average, and its national percentile of 42.3 places it in the middle of the pack nationally. The Ebacc entry rate of 37.1% is modest, with 19.5% of pupils achieving the full Ebacc at grade 5 or above. Parent feedback from 151 respondents is broadly positive: 87% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree that their child is happy (85% strongly agree or agree) and that the school has high expectations (84%). However, only 46% of parents felt that SEND children receive the support they need, and 29% strongly disagreed on that point, which is a notable area of concern.
The school is significantly oversubscribed, receiving 481 applications for 204 places in 2025/26, with 188 first-preference offers made from 224 first-preference applications. Facilities include science labs, a library, music rooms, an astro turf pitch, and playing fields, with sports ranging from basketball and football to martial arts and swimming. Clubs such as Coding, Model UN, and Eco Club are on offer. Upper Shirley supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With 29.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It suits families looking for a solid, above-average state secondary in Southampton where pupils typically make good progress, though those with specific SEND requirements may want to investigate support arrangements further.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Bellemoor Road, Southampton, Southampton, SO15 7QU |
| Headteacher | Christopher Sykes |
| Local Authority | Southampton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,081 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,081 / 990 (109% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Jan 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 13 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.09)
1330th of 3,141
Nationally
206th of 461
In South East
4th of 11
In Southampton
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
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 154 pupils).
- Sixth form college69%
- FE college24%
- Employment2%
- Not sustained2%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
- Apprenticeship1%
97% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
151 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
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed204
481
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
224 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% 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.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British55.6%
- White (other)13.0%
- Asian12.5%
- Mixed8.8%
- 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.
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.
11
Total schools
7
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 Upper Shirley High 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
Bellemoor Road, Southampton
Southampton, SO15 7QU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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