GCSE 2025/26
#2,167 of 3,312
Worse than 65% of schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 26 Mar 2024
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 116469.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 43.1, worse than England, better than Southampton | 40.2 | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 57.5%, worse than England, better than Southampton | 54.4% | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 37.8%, worse than England, similar to Southampton | 35.6% | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 9.8%, worse than England, similar to Southampton | 9% | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 54.3%, worse than England, better than Southampton | 49.3% | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 254 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 1,313 |
| Girls | 525 |
| Boys | 788 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 44% |
| First language not English | 41% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 1,188 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 0% |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 236 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 66 |
| Average class size | 21.1 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 14.8 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 10.2 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 88.44 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 24.43 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 59.25 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 90.2 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 83.4 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 2.4 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 4.4 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 239 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 682 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 318 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 225 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 29 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Southampton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 7.9%, similar to England, better than Southampton | 9.9% | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 20.7%, similar to England, better than Southampton | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 3.2%, similar to England, better than Southampton | 5.5% | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 15.8% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 7.9% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.3% |
| Permanent exclusions | 4 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 87.5% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 86.3% |
| Sixth form college | 65.4% |
| Further education | 20% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 9.6% |
| Employment | 0.8% |
| School sixth form | 0.4% |
| Apprenticeship | 0.4% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 mi | Primary | Bassett Green Primary School | Foundation school | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 20 Jan 2026. | |
| 0.5 mi | Nursery | Hardmoor Nursery & Early Years Centre - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools | Local authority nursery school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 13 Nov 2012. | |
| 0.5 mi | Primary | Swaythling Primary School | Foundation school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 7 Jul 2016. | |
| 0.6 mi | Primary | Highfield Church of England Primary School | Voluntary aided school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 7 Jul 2022. | |
| 0.8 mi | Secondary | Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton | Voluntary aided school | Outstanding Ofsted rating. Inspected 27 Jun 2023. | |
| 0.9 mi | Primary | Portswood Primary School | Academy converter | Outstanding Area360 rating. Inspected 16 Jun 2026. | |
| 1.0 mi | Primary | Hollybrook Infant School | Academy converter | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 4 Feb 2020. | |
| 1.1 mi | Primary | Hollybrook Junior School | Academy sponsor led | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 5 Mar 2015. | |
| 1.2 mi | Not applicable | The Gregg Preparatory School | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 1.3 mi | Primary | Bitterne Park Primary & Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools | Community school | Outstanding Area360 rating. Inspected 7 May 2025. |
Cantell School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, last inspected on 26 Mar 2024.
Cantell School ranks 2,167 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 65% of schools).
In 2025/26, 37.8% of pupils at Cantell School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 43.1 (England 46.2).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Cantell School made 239 offers from 682 applications (2.9 per offer), and 225 of 318 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Cantell School has 1,313 pupils aged 11 to 16.
Cantell School had 1,188 school places in 2024/25.
No, Cantell School teaches pupils up to age 16.
At Cantell School, the average class had 21.1 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 14.8 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Cantell School missed 7.9% of sessions (England 8%), and 20.7% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.