Cove School, based in Farnborough, provides secondary education, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a foundation school and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
Cove School currently has around 1010 pupils on roll, which is about 96% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 48.3% boys and 51.7% girls. Around 27.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 9.3%. Persistent absence is recorded at 24.2%. The school also includes resourced provision, supporting 2 pupils.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (64.1%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 96% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (84%) , including 1% who stay in school sixth forms and 83% progressing to further education , while 7% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | St John's Road, Farnborough, GU14 9RN |
| Website: | http://www.coveschool.uk |
| Telephone: | 01252542397 |
| School Type: | Foundation school |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Hampshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Dr Andrew King |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 116446 |
Ofsted inspection date: 21/01/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1050 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1010 |
| Number of Boys: | 488 |
| Number of Girls: | 522 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 9.3% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 24.2% | 8.2% |
| White British | 64.10% | 647 |
| Other Asian | 9.20% | 93 |
| Other White | 6.30% | 64 |
| African | 4.30% | 43 |
| Pakistani | 2.60% | 26 |
| Other Mixed | 2.50% | 25 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 1.90% | 19 |
| Indian | 1.90% | 19 |
| White and Asian | 1.80% | 18 |
| White and Black African | 1.70% | 17 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.10% | 11 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.80% | 8 |
| Other Black | 0.70% | 7 |
| Unclassified | 0.50% | 5 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.40% | 4 |
| Chinese | 0.30% | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.10% | 1 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cove Infant School 92 Fernhill Road , Cove GU14 9DP | 3out of 4 | 186 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cove Junior School Fernhill Road , Cove GU14 9SA | 3out of 4 | 207 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Manor Junior School Fernhill Road , Cove GU14 9DX | - not rated | 526 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Manor Infant School Fernhill Road , Cove GU14 9DX | 2out of 4 | 526 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Parsonage Farm Nursery and Infant School Cherry Tree Close , GU14 9TT | - not rated | 837 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cove School St John's Road , Cove GU14 9RN | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Oak Farm Community School Ballantyne Road , GU14 8SS | - not rated | 1,023 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Fernhill School Neville Duke Road , GU14 9BY | - not rated | 2,014 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bohunt Farnborough Neville Duke Road , GU14 9BY | 1out of 4 | 2,090 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sixth Form College Farnborough Prospect Avenue , GU14 8JX | - not rated | 1,911 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Sixth Form College Farnborough Prospect Avenue , GU14 8JX | - not rated | 1,911 yd | Academy 16-19 converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Farnborough College of Technology Boundary Road , GU14 6SB | - not rated | 2,823 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Cody School Ballantyne Road , GU14 8SN | 3out of 4 | 1,170 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hawley Woods School Fernhill Road , Blackwater GU17 9HU | - not rated | 2,139 yd | Other independent special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Farnborough Hill Farnborough Road , GU14 8AT | - not rated | 2,231 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| Green Croft School Ship Lane , GU14 8BX | - not rated | 2,702 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Henry Tyndale School Ship Lane , GU14 8BX | 4out of 4 | 2,721 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.