Cove School

Secondary
Local authority maintained
Ages 11 to 16

Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good

St John's Road, Cove, Farnborough, GU14 9RNOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Cove School is a secondary school in Farnborough for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 600 schools in Hampshire. It ranks 2nd of 3 secondary schools in Farnborough. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 21 January 2025, report published 26 March 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Requires improvement
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

186 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score42.7

42.7, 3.4 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths35.5%

35.5%, 9.9 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths54.3%

54.3%, 10.5 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc36%

36%, 4.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.77

3.77, 0.32 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

1,007 pupils on roll, with places for 1,050

Eligible for free school meals27.6%

27.6%, 1.1 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language20.1%

20.1%, 1.5 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support36.9%

36.9%, 22.1 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan6.8%

6.8%, 0.8 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Cove School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
The Sixth Form College Farnborough	1 mile	No Ofsted inspection	Not published
Bohunt Farnborough	1 mile	Ofsted: Inadequate	Attainment 8: 38.7
Farnborough Hill	1 mile	No Ofsted inspection	Attainment 8: 63.7
Kings International College	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Not published
Salesian College	2 miles	No Ofsted inspection	Attainment 8: 71.9

School details

School type: Foundation school
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 11 to 16
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Headteacher: Mr David Bibby
Phone: 01252542397
Website: coveschool.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: St John's Road, Cove, Farnborough, GU14 9RN
Local authority: Hampshire
URN: 116446

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.