Woodlands Community College
Southampton, SO18 5FW · Southampton · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th 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 — 0.4/10 against 224 of them, against 0.3/10 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 | 16.1 · 2 | 30% | 0.05 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.89 · 4 | 25% | 0.10 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 31.6 · 2 | 10% | 0.02 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Woodlands Community College overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in October 2022. In 2024/25, 15.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 35.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.89 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than peers nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (0.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.3 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 907 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. 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 to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the school manage class sizes when operating over its published capacity?
What Ofsted said about Woodlands Community College
Overview
Woodlands Community College is described as a “purposeful and caring school” where pupils feel “safe and secure” and are “proud and happy to attend.” Leaders have driven “significant and systematic improvements” since the previous inspection, with some describing the school as having been “transformed.” The report highlights a clear vision, high expectations, and a curriculum that prepares pupils for future success.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “kind and respectful behaviour” and consistently uphold the school’s values of “respect, resilience and responsibility.”
- Teachers are “helpful, supportive and dedicated,” with staff trained well to adapt the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- A “highly effective careers programme” ensures very few pupils leave without a clear plan for their next steps.
- Governors are “involved and invested” in the school, providing supportive oversight and necessary challenge to leaders.
- Pupils benefit from a “breadth of extra-curricular activities” and a relevant personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) programme.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must continue strategies to improve attendance, as “too many” pupils do not attend school often enough, impacting their achievement.
- Further training is needed to address variability in how teachers introduce new concepts, ensuring pupils benefit more consistently from “high-quality teaching” and do not develop knowledge gaps.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with leaders prioritising safety, ensuring staff receive effective training, and taking “swift action to secure help for pupils and their families” when concerns arise.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 33.7 |
| 2024/25 | 35.5 |
| 2025/26 | 31.6 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of SO18 5FW, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT