Cantell School

Cantell School has undergone an inspection in March 2024 and has achieved an overall effectiveness rating of 'Outstanding', a significant improvement from its previous rating of 'Good'. The inspection highlighted the school's exceptional approach to education, characterized by a strong sense of pride among students and a positive, inclusive culture that promotes high expectations for all learners. Key strengths include pupils' exemplary behavior, the ambitious curriculum, and the supportive leadership that has fostered a thriving educational environment. The school is part of the Aspire Community Trust, which has provided valuable support for its continuous development.

Strengths

• Exceptional pride and community spirit among pupils.
• Ambitious and well-structured curriculum that supports strong outcomes.
• Outstanding behavior and attitudes of pupils across the school.
• Effective and supportive leadership that prioritizes staff and pupil well-being.
• High levels of pupil participation in extracurricular activities.

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 Cantell School attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 18.7% 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, 7.9% of pupils at Cantell School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 4 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 Cantell School had 14.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.5% 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, 18.0% of pupils at Cantell School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 5.0% 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 Cantell School received £9,232 and spent £9,110 for each of its 1,313 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £829,000 (£632 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 Southampton · Southampton local authority: places and applications

Cantell School is part of Aspire Community Trust, which runs 8 schools. The nearest others:

• Bassett Green Primary School Southampton
• Vermont School Southampton
• Swaythling Primary School Southampton
• Mansbridge Primary School Southampton
• Bevois Town Primary School Southampton
• Mount Pleasant Juniors Southampton
• Mount Pleasant Infants Southampton

What is Cantell School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Cantell School is Outstanding, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Cantell School last inspected by Ofsted?

Cantell School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Cantell School have?

Cantell School has 1,313 pupils on roll.

What age range does Cantell School cover?

Cantell School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Cantell School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 43.1, and 38% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Cantell School?

Cantell School is at Violet Road, Bassett, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 3GJ.