Upper Shirley High School
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.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 151 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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
22 Jan 2025Latest monitoring visit (22 Jan 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 13 Nov 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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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