Testwood School, Southampton

In its own words: "Nurturing our young people to become respectful, resilient and proud to take responsibility in our community. During the autumn term of 2023 the students on the School Council, the staff, volunteer parents and carers, and the trustees worked separately to identify the vision for Testwood (what we wanted our students to be like when they leave us)."

In 2026, pupils at Testwood School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.6 in Hampshire and 47 across England.

28% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Hampshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 42.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.01: pupils made well below 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 33.1, against 41.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 151 families put Testwood School as their first choice and 236 named it as one of their preferences, for 153 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Testwood School are Redbridge Community School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 29.1); Hounsdown School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.7); Oasis Academy Lord's Hill (1.8 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 38.7); and Regents Park Community College (2.2 miles).

Testwood School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

121 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Testwood School (as of September 2025): 87% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 62% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (62%).

Of the 167 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 70% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

6.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Totton Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Testwood Lane (adjacent), 350 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 130 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hampshire (72), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Testwood School issued 333 suspensions, 39 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Testwood School are Oakfield Academy (0.4 miles), Lydlynch Infant School (0.5 miles), Abbotswood Junior School (0.6 miles) and Eling Infant School and Nursery (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.