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catchment.school

Upper Shirley High School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Upper Shirley High School is an academy converter secondary school in Southampton , serving pupils aged 11-16, with 1081 pupils, and a capacity of 990 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-16

Age range

1,081

Pupils

990

Capacity

109%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2019

Upper Shirley High School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Upper Shirley High School?

The catchment area for Upper Shirley High School is the geographic zone Southampton uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Southampton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

As an academy, Upper Shirley High School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Southampton. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.

Currently oversubscribed: 1081 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 990 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Southampton publishes the 2027 Upper Shirley High School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Southampton before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Southampton catchment area documents →

Upper Shirley High School: at or above its 990 place limit

Upper Shirley High School has a published admission number of 990 places. 1081 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 109%. The school is at or above its published limit of 990 places. Southampton allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 29.3% of pupils at Upper Shirley High School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Southampton.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Southampton publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Southampton school admissions →

Upper Shirley High School: School Information

Full address
Bellemoor Road, Upper Shirley, Southampton, SO15 7QU
Local authority
Southampton
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-16 years
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
29.3% of pupils
DfE URN
137037

Other Secondary Schools in Southampton

If Upper Shirley High School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Southampton are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Upper Shirley High School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Upper Shirley High School

What is the catchment area for Upper Shirley High School?

The catchment area for Upper Shirley High School is the geographic zone Southampton uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Southampton publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Upper Shirley High School oversubscribed?

Yes, Upper Shirley High School currently has 1081 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 990 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Upper Shirley High School?

Admission to Upper Shirley High School is managed by Southampton. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Upper Shirley High School cover?

Upper Shirley High School is a secondary school in Southampton, serving pupils aged 11-16. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Upper Shirley High School?

Upper Shirley High School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2019. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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