The Serendipity School
399 Hinkler Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 6DSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Serendipity School is a special school in Southampton for ages 9 to 19. It is one of the 84 schools in Southampton. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 4 June 2024, report published 2 July 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 4 June 2024
Parents and carers cite the transformative experience this school has had on their children, one referring to The Serendipity School as having gone 'above and beyond for me and my child' and another calling it: 'our light at the end of a very dark tunnel.' As a result of the expert care and support pupils receive, they feel increasingly engaged in school and hopeful about their futures. This is especially important as, for many pupils, their prior experiences in school and education have not always been as positive. Pupils are known exceptionally well by staff, who are expert in adapting their approaches to meet the needs of the pupils in their care. For example, by knowing the signs that mean they might be struggling, pupils are supported not just in the moment but also longer term in being able to identify and pre-empt these elements themselves. This personalised and adapted support develops their self-esteem, confidence and personal and social skills. Opportunities for 'gem time' and 'talk about' sessions are used expertly to develop pupils' increasing awareness of their impact on others, supporting their resilience and mental health. Over time, these support pupils in knowing how to regulate their own behaviour. As a result, relationships across the school are highly positive.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
7 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
24 pupils on roll, with places for 25
Schools near The Serendipity School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springwell School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Yarrow Heights School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 24.6 |
| Luminous Oak Academy | 3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Fair Ways School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 4.1 |
| New Avenue School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 9 to 19
- Gender
- Girls
- Headteacher
- Miss Philippa Smith
- Phone
- 02380422255
- Address
- 399 Hinkler Road, Thornhill, Southampton, SO19 6DS
- Local authority
- Southampton
- URN
- 131556
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.