The Westgate School

The Westgate School has been assessed as outstanding in its overall effectiveness, showcasing remarkable performance across all evaluated areas except for early years provision, which is rated good. The school community exemplifies its motto of learning together and achieving excellence, with high expectations set for all students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff commitment to pupil advocacy and well-structured support systems contribute to exceptional academic and personal achievements, which notably prepare students for subsequent educational pathways. The school fosters a sense of belonging, encourages leadership skills, and integrates a broad and challenging curriculum that promotes both academic and personal growth.

Strengths

• High expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Exceptional academic achievement and deep learning.
• Strong focus on reading from the start.
• Effective support for vulnerable pupils.
• Well-planned and coherent curriculum.
• Excellent staff training and development.
• Constructive relationships between staff and pupils.
• Effective governance with knowledgeable governors.

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff do not consistently capitalize on opportunities to extend children’s learning in early years.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Westgate School attended 93.5% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 15.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 3.4% of pupils at The Westgate School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Westgate School had 17.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.7% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 9.4% of pupils at The Westgate School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 5.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 The Westgate School received £7,912 and spent £7,830 for each of its 1,650 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £3,214,000 (£1,948 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Winchester · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is The Westgate School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Westgate School is Outstanding, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was The Westgate School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Westgate School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does The Westgate School have?

The Westgate School has 1,649 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Westgate School cover?

The Westgate School for pupils aged 4 to 16.

What are The Westgate School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 59.7, and 69% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are The Westgate School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Westgate School?

The Westgate School is at Cheriton Road, The Westgate School, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5AZ.