SCHOOL PROFILE

The Polygon School

Not applicable Foundation special school URN 116624
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity 77 Published school capacity
Capacity used 100.0% Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 11 – 16 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest inspection

2 December 2025
Latest published outcome Met
Renewed framework
Safeguarding Met
Inclusion Strong standard
Curriculum & teaching Expected standard
Achievement Expected standard
Attendance & behaviour Strong standard
Personal development Strong standard
Leadership & governance Expected standard
INSPECTION HISTORY

Previous Ofsted activity

9 March 2022
Ungraded inspection School remains Good
Published 24 May 2022
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Foundation special school
Phase Not applicable
Gender Boys
Religious character Does not apply
Local authority Southampton
Trust Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 77 77 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 0 0.0% of pupils
Male pupils 77 100.0% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

83.1%
58.3 pts above England
School 83.1%
Southampton 37.0%
South East 19.0%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

1.3%
19.0 pts below England
School 1.3%
Southampton 30.8%
South East 15.6%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

0.0%
1.0 pts below England
School 0.0%
Southampton 1.9%
South East 1.7%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
88.3%
68
Any other White background
2.6%
2
African
1.3%
1
Any other Mixed background
1.3%
1
Caribbean
1.3%
1
Gypsy / Roma
1.3%
1
Council, regional and national comparisons are pupil-weighted using published school census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Special educational needs

Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.

2025/26
Pupils with SEN 100.0% 77 of 77 pupils
79.2 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 100.0%
Southampton 23.2%
South East 21.1%
England 20.8%
SEN support 0.0% 0 pupils
England 14.8% 14.8 pts below
EHC plans 100.0% 77 pupils
England 6.0% 94.0 pts above
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Social, emotional & mental health 56
Autistic spectrum disorder 16
Speech, language & communication 3
Other difficulty or disability 1
Vision impairment 1

SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Key stage 4 outcomes

Published Department for Education results for 2024/25.

2024/25
ATTAINMENT 8

Average attainment score

2.4 36.8 pts below England
School 2.4
Southampton 33.5
South East 38.5
England 39.2
English & maths grade 5+ 0.0% England 36.0% 36.0 pts below England
English & maths grade 4+ 0.0% England 51.4% 51.4 pts below England
EBacc entry 0.0% England 30.6% 30.6 pts below England
EBacc average point score 0.00 England 3.41
Progress 8 Not available for 2024/25

Latest published: -2.09 · 2023/24

Comparisons are averages of published school-level results for open schools. They are not pupil-weighted official local authority attainment rates.

ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE

Attendance profile

Published Department for Education absence data for 2024/25. Lower absence rates are generally better.

2024/25
ABSENCE RATE

Overall absence

17.84%

Percentage of possible sessions missed.

11.63 pts higher than England
School 17.84%
Southampton 7.24%
South East 6.30%
England 6.22%
ABSENCE RATE

Persistent absence

48.72%

Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.

32.90 pts higher than England
School 48.72%
Southampton 19.88%
South East 15.75%
England 15.82%
ABSENCE RATE

Severe absence

6.41%

Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.

4.61 pts higher than England
School 6.41%
Southampton 2.32%
South East 1.93%
England 1.80%
Council, regional and national comparisons are averages of published school-level percentages rather than pupil-weighted official absence rates.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

School context

Comparison with open not applicable schools.

CAPACITY

Capacity utilisation

100.0% 20.2 pts above England
The Polygon School
100.0%
Southampton
81.6%
South East
79.9%
England
79.8%
Benchmarks use open schools in the same phase. Capacity utilisation is calculated from published pupil and capacity figures.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information