Southam College, Southam

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Southam College on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "There is a comprehensive, meticulously considered personal development and wellbeing programme in place."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a curriculum in the sixth form that is both accessible and challenging."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders closely analyse attendance information."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders maintain a clear oversight of curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have put in place robust systems and processes to identify the needs of vulnerable pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure understanding of the strengths of the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should improve the achievement of those pupils who join the school as high prior attainers by ensuring that teachers make highly effective choices about what and how to teach"; "Leaders should continue to improve pupils' attendance, particularly for key groups identified by the school, which include severely absent pupils".

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am extremely proud to be Headteacher of Southam College as I know what a unique and supportive place of learning our school is. Our fantastic students and staff create a wonderful ethos which provides the foundation for every student to fulfil their potential."

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 Southam College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50 in Warwickshire and 47 across England.

49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Warwickshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 49.3.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.08: pupils made about 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 35.9, against 52.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 297 families put Southam College as their first choice and 513 named it as one of their preferences, for 256 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 60 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Southam College is one of 14 schools run by Stowe Valley Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46 in 2024/25.

Of the 264 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 35% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 166 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 51% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 17% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

16.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 268 pupils (16.4%) received SEN support and 42 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Southam College.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Southam College (adjacent), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Southam College stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 37 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Warwickshire (88).

In 2024/25, Southam College issued 124 suspensions, 7.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Southam College are Southam Primary School (0.2 miles); Southam St James CofE Academy (0.3 miles); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Southam (0.5 miles); and Stockton Primary School (1.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.