Bitterne Park School
Southampton, SO18 1BU · Southampton · secondary school
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5th of 11 secondary schools in Southampton we can score, 12 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.9/10 against 766 of them, against 2.6/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.9 · 20 | 30% | 0.61 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.19 · 36 | 25% | 0.89 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.6 · 22 | 10% | 0.23 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Bitterne Park School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 for 2023/24 was -0.19, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 2,036 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,000. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are below the national median in Attainment 8? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Bitterne Park School
Overview
Pupils describe the school as a ‘close community’ where they feel happy and safe, supported by staff who ‘really care for us’. Leaders have reshaped the curriculum to be ‘ambitious for all’, resulting in pupils ‘typically learning more and remembering more of what they are taught’. The inspection confirms that significant improvements have been made since the pandemic, with behaviour and personal development rated as strong.
Strengths
- Pupils behave respectfully and bullying is ‘not common’, with instances dealt with effectively.
- Bespoke provisions, such as ‘the Ferns’ and the ‘ARB’ for pupils with autism, ‘thrive emotionally, socially and academically’.
- The sixth form offers a ‘bespoke range of courses’ with ‘especially strong’ careers education.
- Expert phonics support helps pupils who struggle with reading to ‘catch up with their peers’.
- Staff are enthusiastic about training, helping them ‘adapt teaching to meet pupils’ specific learning needs’.
Areas to improve
- Ensure pupils have ‘enough opportunities to read and write across the curriculum in a well-coordinated way’, as current approaches are sometimes inconsistent.
- Embed ‘approaches to adaptive teaching’ so that all pupils, including the most able and those with special educational needs, are appropriately challenged and understand learning intentions.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.9 |
| 2024/25 | 43.1 |
| 2025/26 | 40.6 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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