Great Oaks School

  • Special
  • Academy
  • Ages 11 to 19
Ofsted: Outstanding

Vermont Close, Off Winchester Road, Southampton, SO16 7LTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Great Oaks School is a special school in Southampton for ages 11 to 19. It is one of the 84 schools in Southampton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 28 November 2023, report published 24 January 2024

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 November 2023

Great Oaks is an exceptional school. It is an inspirational place where young people, at all stages of their school life, thrive, both socially and academically. The school is ambitious for every pupil, no matter what their starting points are. Determined staff do everything they can to ensure that pupils enjoy school and benefit from a carefully adapted curriculum. Relationships between staff and pupils are very strong. Staff care for pupils with respect and understanding. This helps pupils to have a strong sense of belonging and feel part of the school community. These relationships, coupled with an exceptionally well-designed curriculum, ensure that pupils achieve highly from their starting points. As a result, pupils gain the skills and knowledge they need for a successful life beyond school. Pupils' behaviour is remarkable. Where needed, well-trained staff provide expert support to pupils, helping them to regulate their emotions with dignity. Pupils demonstrate an exceptional understanding and appreciation of their peers' differences and commonalities. Bullying is understood and not tolerated. As a result, the school provides a safe and nurturing sanctuary for young people, from all walks of life, with a range of complex learning difficulties.

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

48 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score1.0

1.0, 45.1 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths0%

0%, 45.4 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths0%

0%, 64.8 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc0%

0%, 40.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score0.02

0.02, 4.07 below the England average of 4.09.

Pupil numbers and mix

369 pupils on roll, with places for 280

Eligible for free school meals67.2%

67.2%, 40.7 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language21.7%

21.7%, 0.1 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near Great Oaks School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Vermont School0.1 milesOfsted judgements: Inadequate to requires improvement0% met the expected standard
Rosewood Free School0.9 milesOfsted: OutstandingNot published
New Avenue School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
The Polygon School2 milesReport card: Expected standard to strong standardAttainment 8: 2.4
The Cedar School2 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy special converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
SPECIALIST SCHOOLS TRUST LTD
Age range
11 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mrs Geraldine Lindsay
Address
Vermont Close, Off Winchester Road, Southampton, SO16 7LT
Local authority
Southampton
URN
144205

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.