Cantell School, Southampton

In its own words: "We celebrate and embrace our diversity by shaping our curriculum to meet the needs and aspirations of every individual. We want our students to lead happy and successful lives; therefore, our students follow a rich, broad and balanced curriculum."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 5 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Cantell School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.1 in Southampton and 47 across England.

38% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 37% in Southampton and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.21: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.6, against 48.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 28 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 318 families put Cantell School as their first choice and 682 named it as one of their preferences, for 239 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 93 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Cantell School are Saint George Catholic Voluntary Aided College Southampton (0.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 57.8); Upper Shirley High School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.6); Bitterne Park School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.6); and St Anne's Catholic School (1.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.4).

Cantell School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Cantell School is one of 8 schools run by Aspire Community Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 240 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 20% to a further education college, 0% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

44% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 41% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (34%), White British (32%) and Black (8%).

Cantell School has a resourced provision for other difficulties or disabilities: 29 places, 29 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Swaythling Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cantell School (outside), 40 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 135 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Southampton (352).

In 2024/25, Cantell School issued 204 suspensions, 15.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Cantell School are Bassett Green Primary School (0.4 miles), Swaythling Primary School (0.5 miles), Highfield Church of England Primary School (0.6 miles) and Portswood Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.