School Chooser

The Henry Cort Community College

Secondary · ages 11-16MixedCouncil807 pupilsFarehamHampshire
School Chooser Score
23
Below
similar schools
Likely range 18 to 32
Out of 100. Better than 14% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedNeeds attention teachingOfsted report card, January 2026
Strong pass in English and maths43%England 46%
Attendance91.5%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families22%A bit fewer than most schools
Parents would recommend71%196 Parent View responses
Places93 spare807 pupils, 900 places

The Henry Cort Community College is a council school in Fareham for boys and girls aged 11 to 16. It has 807 pupils and room for 900. About 22 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 23 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 14% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in January 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Hillson Drive, Fareham, PO15 6PH01329 843127henry-cort.hants.sch.ukMr Chris Rice principalAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 20 January 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
As expected
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
As expected
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
As expected
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
As expected
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
13 June 2023S5 InspectionRequires improvement

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

158 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score44.2
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths43%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths64%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.56In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 45.545.520182019: 48.248.220192022: 40.840.820222023: 41.741.720232024: 39.439.420242025: 44.244.22025
Since 2018: -1.3Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018HampshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11158157160118141141
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 844.239.441.740.848.245.545.246.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.56-0.20-0.57-0.06-0.09
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths43%35%34%35%49%46%44%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths64%57%59%59%73%61%65%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.863.603.623.594.214.183.984.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry45%54%67%51%71%76%32%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged30.130.331.231.629.834.4
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged48.340.945.043.150.648.2
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers24.827.524.321.225.9
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers56.964.556.960.159.3

Subjects

Results came out for 20 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Spanish (9% here, 54% across England), German (33% here, 63% across England), Religious Studies (41% here, 60% across England), French (42% here, 60% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 3 languages, computer science.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
English Language157 entries · 37th of 67 in Hampshire
50%England 54%
English Literature156 entries · 37th of 67 in Hampshire
53%England 58%
Mathematics156 entries · 38th of 67 in Hampshire
48%England 53%
Religious Studies147 entries · 30th of 35 in Hampshire
41%England 60%
Combined Science105 entries · 55th of 67 in Hampshire
21%England 36%
History88 entries · 35th of 67 in Hampshire
49%England 52%
Art and Design77 entries · 29th of 66 in Hampshire
53%England 58%
Biology51 entries · 36th of 56 in Hampshire
82%England 82%
Chemistry50 entries · 35th of 56 in Hampshire
76%England 81%
Physics50 entries · 33rd of 56 in Hampshire
84%England 82%
French45 entries · 43rd of 45 in Hampshire
42%England 60%
Geography36 entries · 38th of 66 in Hampshire
50%England 51%
Business31 entries · 17th of 36 in Hampshire
45%England 51%
Computer Science23 entries · 34th of 52 in Hampshire
44%England 56%
Spanish23 entries · 43rd of 44 in Hampshire
9%England 54%
German18 entries
33%England 63%
Drama12 entries
50%England 60%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
English Language15712%50%69%54%1,766 of 3,210
English Literature15612%53%67%58%1,850 of 3,202
Mathematics15617%48%72%53%1,834 of 3,211
Religious Studies1479%41%54%60%1,561 of 1,825
Combined Science1050%21%41%36%2,548 of 3,084
History8823%49%63%52%1,685 of 3,126
Art and Design778%53%73%58%1,691 of 2,818
Biology5128%82%94%82%1,534 of 2,570
Chemistry5030%76%94%81%1,730 of 2,537
Physics5026%84%94%82%1,431 of 2,546
French4516%42%53%60%1,581 of 1,974
Geography3611%50%69%51%1,425 of 3,116
Business313%45%65%51%999 of 1,806
Computer Science2313%44%65%56%1,254 of 1,861
Spanish234%9%30%54%1,929 of 1,941
German1811%33%50%63%
Drama1217%50%67%60%
Design & Technology813%63%63%50%
Social Studies825%88%88%54%
Other Modern Languages60%0%0%49%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 3 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
30.148.3
Gap 18.2England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
19%50%
Gap 31 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
45.143.0
Gap 2.1England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test.

A few spare places848 pupils for 997 places, 2024/25
85% full

About 149 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have grown by 6% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (197 offers for 180 places).

EntryPlacesApplied at allGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary180271197all offeredLA
2025 Secondary180214168all offeredLA
2024 Secondary180318195all offeredLA
2023 Secondary180340201all offeredLA
2022 Secondary180277202all offeredLA

What parents say

Would recommend the school71%England 77%
My child is happy here75%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe79%
Positive overall65%
My child is happy at this school
75%England 75%
My child feels safe at this school
79%England 79%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
59%England 71%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
32% yesEngland 26%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
58%England 48%
My child gets the right support to learn well
66%England 71%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
28% yesEngland 31%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
65%England 58%
The school communicates well with me
80%England 71%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
60%England 58%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
70%England 67%
I would recommend this school
71%England 77%
Overall view of the school is positive
65%England 67%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 196 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for secondary schools with enough answers to publish.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll807Census January 2026
Places90090% full
Pupils from low-income families22%22% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English6%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support18%147 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%29 pupils with a plan
Average class size24.232 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils25%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)21%£187,000 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls401 / 406
White British pupils88%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Specific learning difficulty (53), emotional and mental health (43), Moderate learning difficulty (25), language and communications needs (24), Autistic spectrum disorder (23), Severe learning difficulty (3).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll807856885853809802
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals22%19%16%19%19%16%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language6%6%7%4%3%3%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support17%17%16%16%15%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%1%1%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 91.5% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance91.5%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school24.7%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils18.32024/25, 4 permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.8%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence8.5%8.7%9.5%10.1%4.8%5.3%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence6.8%6.5%7.1%7.9%3.4%3.8%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.8%2.1%2.4%2.2%1.4%1.5%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence24.7%26.8%29.7%30.4%11.6%13.7%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate18.317.917.911.66.9
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions43430

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 160 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training86%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 68%, compared with 92% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training86%92%95%93%
Education76%88%84%90%
Apprenticeship7%3%6%2%
Work3%2%6%1%
Not in education, work or training7%4%5%6%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers42.8full-time equivalent, 52 people
Pupils per teacher18.9Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers96%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants18.7full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£54,888
Teachers who left in the year16%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher8.62024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,788England £8,524. Total £6.7m
Income per pupil£7,696England £8,454. Total £6.6m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,027England £4,610
Money in reserve4%Not much put by: £244k, £285 per pupil. England 5%
Money in against money out-£79kit spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£7,788spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m17512 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate77 per 1,000 people15% lower than the England average
Typical house price£350,000Fareham
Nearest bus stop240 mHenry Cort Drive, 6 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Fareham AcademyAcademy1.5 miles888Report card 20267Compare
Cams Hill SchoolAcademy2.8 miles1,265Good 201970Compare
Crofton SchoolAcademy2.8 miles1,112Report card 202622Compare
Brookfield Community SchoolCouncil2.8 miles1,854No overall grade 202572Compare
Bridgemary SchoolAcademy3.3 miles814Requires improvement 20233Compare
Portchester Community SchoolCouncil4.3 miles688Good 202433Compare
King's Academy Brune ParkAcademy4.5 miles1,167Inadequate 20230Compare
The Hamble SchoolCouncil4.7 miles1,139No overall grade 202545Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares The Henry Cort Community College with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats14%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the bottom quarter of its group. Its score of 23 is 29 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 8 · middle 52 · highest 82100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than The Henry Cort Community College, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Deer Park SchoolFree school5.2 miles910Good 202353Compare
The Toynbee SchoolCouncil10.5 miles1,107Not inspected58Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 23 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 23% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 18 to 32. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%below
-0.07
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 158 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well below
-0.22
Ofsted report card, 0.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.16
DfE progress measure; 158 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.08
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
0.00
2024/25; 902 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
-0.02
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 158 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.04
160 pupils
What parents say5%below
-0.03
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 196 responses

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is The Henry Cort Community College a good school?

The figures are weak. The Henry Cort Community College scores 23 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 14% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 18 to 32, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is The Henry Cort Community College's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 20 January 2026 it rated teaching as needs attention, achievement as needs attention, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as as expected.

How good are The Henry Cort Community College's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 43% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 44.2, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does The Henry Cort Community College have?

807 pupils aged 11 to 16 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 900 places, so it is 90% full.

Is The Henry Cort Community College oversubscribed?

Probably not. 149 places were empty in 2024/25 (15% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at The Henry Cort Community College?

Pupils were in school 91.5% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 25% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about The Henry Cort Community College?

71% of the 196 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 75% say their child is happy there. Across England, 77% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at The Henry Cort Community College?

The average class had 24.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 25% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does The Henry Cort Community College have a sixth form?

No. Pupils leave after Year 11 for a sixth form elsewhere, a college or an apprenticeship; 86% of 2022/23 leavers were still in education, work or training six months on.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Hillson Drive, Fareham, PO15 6PH
Telephone
01329 843127
Website
www.henry-cort.hants.sch.uk
Principal
Mr Chris Rice
Type of school
Council school (Community school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-16
Gender
Mixed
Local authority
Hampshire
Ward
Fareham Park
Constituency
Fareham and Waterlooville
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
116466 · LAESTAB 8504307 · UKPRN 10003014

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from