Wildern School
95%
Capacity
1,800
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Wildern School
Wildern School is a popular choice among Eastleigh families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 524 applications for 285 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.84. Of those, 244 families put it as their first preference, and 241 of those were offered a spot, meaning first-preference applicants had a very strong chance of getting in. The school is a large, mixed, non-religious state secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and currently has 1,800 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,900. While the data doesn't include a specific parent recommendation percentage, the high demand and strong first-preference conversion rate suggest a solid reputation locally. The headteacher is Ceri Oakley, and the school sits in the Hampshire local authority.
Academically, Wildern is a solid performer. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, it was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2022. At KS4, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.05, which is above the Hampshire local authority average of -0.17, and is classified as 'Average' nationally. The Attainment 8 score sits at 49.7, and 71.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school's EBacc entry rate is 45.5%, with 34.5% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Nationally, Wildern ranks in the top 50% of schools by Progress 8, and within Eastleigh it sits 3rd out of 5 schools.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, tennis courts, and a gymnasium, plus a dedicated sixth form centre despite not having a sixth form itself. Sports on offer include football, rugby, basketball, and martial arts, while clubs range from coding and eco club to Model UN and book club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school has a broad SEND provision covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language issues, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 16.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake. Wildern suits families who want a large, well-subscribed community school with strong academic foundations and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, particularly those who value a clear improvement trajectory and good local reputation.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Wildern Lane, Southampton, Eastleigh, SO30 4EJ |
| Headteacher | Ceri Oakley |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,800 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,800 / 1,900 (95% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 23 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.05)
1412th of 3,141
Nationally
216th of 461
In South East
3rd of 5
In Eastleigh
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
2022/2364%
of GCSE leavers move to sixth form college (cohort: 356 pupils).
- Sixth form college64%
- FE college22%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment2%
94% 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
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed285
524
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
244 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British83.0%
- White (other)4.7%
- Mixed4.4%
- Asian4.4%
- Black0.1%
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.
8
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
6
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 Wildern 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
Wildern Lane, Southampton
Eastleigh, SO30 4EJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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