Vermont School is proposed to close (Sunday 31 January 2027).
The Department for Education lists this school as open but proposed to close. Check with the school or the council before applying.
Vermont School, Southampton
Vermont School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Southampton, part of Aspire Community Trust. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2024. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2026 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Vermont School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Vermont School are Vermont School (under 0.1 miles); Great Oaks School (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding); Rosewood Free School (0.8 miles, Outstanding); and New Avenue School (1.5 miles, Good, selective).
Vermont SchoolGreat Oaks SchoolRosewood Free SchoolNew Avenue School
The trust
Vermont School is one of 8 schools run by Aspire Community Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
75.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Mixed (17%).
Almost every pupil at Vermont School has an education, health and care plan (54 of 54 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Vermont School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Swaythling Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Great Oaks School (ne-bound), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Vermont School 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 121 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 Southampton (352).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Vermont School issued 119 suspensions, 224.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Vermont School has made strong progress under new leadership, with an ambitious curriculum now in place and clear focus on improvement. Attendance has improved significantly and behavior management is much more consistent across the school. Leaders and governors are working well together with external partners to support the school's development.
Key Strengths
- Leaders have designed an ambitious, well-structured curriculum with clear learning goals
- Attendance has improved significantly and the school now compares well with similar schools
- Staff behavior management training has resulted in improved pupil behavior and fewer serious incidents
- New leadership team has made swift decisions to stabilize the school
- Governors now understand and are fulfilling their statutory duties
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching is not implemented consistently across the school, affecting pupil progress
- Pupils' handwriting and letter formation are not improving and remain below age-appropriate levels
- Assessment systems are not yet effective at identifying pupil misconceptions
- Staff confidence in delivering the phonics and reading scheme needs to develop further
- Pupils' concentration and engagement in lessons is variable due to inconsistent teaching
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is effective with appropriate systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Vermont School is working to improve after being placed in special measures. Leaders and governors are taking effective action to stabilize the school, though continued work is needed to remove the special measures designation.
At a Glance
75.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 11% to 17% (2024 to 2025), while maths has improved from 0% to 11% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Vermont School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Vermont School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Vermont School is in Southampton; for families living there:
Apply to Southampton for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 29
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 23 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Southampton is 33 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
54 pupils
55 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Southampton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Southampton
Across Southampton council
Places available
2,620
Applications
2,668
Got 1st preference
83.4%
Got preferred school
93.4%
All secondary applications across Southampton council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
54
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Vermont School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
54
Total Pupils
48
Boys
6
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
5.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,758
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
22.5%
Overall absence
64.4%
Persistent absence
59
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Vermont School
What are SATs results like at Vermont School?
Of the pupils at Vermont School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 17% reached the expected standard in reading and 11% did so in maths.
What is Vermont School's Ofsted rating?
Vermont School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2024, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Vermont School?
No fixed boundary. When Vermont School is oversubscribed, Southampton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Vermont School?
Vermont School has around 54 pupils on roll. 76% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Vermont School have specialist SEN provision?
Vermont School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Vermont School?
22.5% of sessions were missed at Vermont School in 2024/25. 64.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Vermont School?
Apply through Southampton's coordinated admissions process, naming Vermont School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Vermont School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 23 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Southampton is 33 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Vermont School?
Vermont School is at Vermont Close, Off Winchester Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 7LT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)