Secondary school

Upper Shirley High School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Southampton
  • SO15 7QU
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Oct 2019

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,377 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 42%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 34%34%2016/17: top 49%2017/18: top 22%22% · 2017/182018/19: top 32%2021/22: top 30%2022/23: top 46%2023/24: top 33%2024/25: top 42%No exams

Against South East

Attainment 847 · South East 466/10 Middle−9 pts since 21/22
Grade 5+ English and maths49.3% · South East 44.8%6/10 Middle
EBacc point score4.09 · South East 4.036/10 Middle−17.9 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.09 · South East +0.016/10 Middle−12.8 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 52.5 · 146 pupils · South East 50.92016/17: 46.2 · 145 pupils · South East 46.72017/18: 52 · 148 pupils · South East 46.72018/19: 49.7 · 148 pupils · South East 47.12021/22: 52.5 · 180 pupils · South East 49.12022/23: 46.8 · 180 pupils · South East 46.52023/24: 49.2 · 210 pupils · South East 46.22024/25: 47 · 217 pupils · South East 4652.546.2No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 34% · 145 pupils · South East 43%2017/18: 53% · 148 pupils · South East 43.5%2018/19: 40% · 148 pupils · South East 43%2021/22: 56% · 180 pupils · South East 51%2022/23: 51% · 180 pupils · South East 45%2023/24: 57.6% · 210 pupils · South East 45.9%2024/25: 49.3% · 217 pupils · South East 44.8%57.6%34%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in79.4%
197 of 248 who put it first2014 · 87.2%2026 · 79.4%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st248197
2nd16114
3rd1504

No last distance offered published

Inspections · 2006–2025

  1. 2006Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2008Satisfactoryas predecessor
  3. 2011Goodas predecessor
  4. 2016Ungraded visit
  5. 2019Good
  6. 2025Ungraded visit

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,062
Free school meals (past 6 years)29.8%
First language not English33.8%
SEN support10.4%
EHC plan2.9%
Absence (sessions missed)8.3%
Persistently absent pupils20.5%

Girls 46.2%Boys 53.8%

107.3% full · 990 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 151 responses (14% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school84.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school86.8% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved80.1% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 61.6% not applicable56.9% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year79.5% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 23.2% not applicable75% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?18.5% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 18.5% who said Yes above46.4% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child84.1% agree
  • My child does well at this school82.1% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing88.1% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school93.4% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school92.1% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development74.2% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent87.4% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher16.4
Pupils per adult11.4
  • Classroom teachers 58.6
  • Leadership 6
  • Teaching assistants 15.5
  • Other support 35.1

Teachers 64.6 FTE · Whole workforce 115.2 · 126 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,928
Spend per pupil£7,653
Staff spend per pupil£6,128
Reserve per pupil£280
  • +£303,000revenue reserve
  • +£297,000in-year balance

Grants £7,604 · self-generated £340 · premises £392 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: HAMWIC EDUCATION TRUST (37 academies) · trust reserve £4,791,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

210 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained91%
  • Education88.1%
  • Apprenticeship2.4%
  • Employment0.5%
  • Not sustained6.7%
  • Unknown2.4%