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Balcarras School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

East End Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham GL53 8QF · balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk · 01242 515881

On the mapSearch near GL53 8QF

Overview

Ofsted
No overall grade
2019 framework · inspected Mar 2025
GCSEs, 2024/25
58.5
average Attainment 8 score. Gloucestershire 50.3, England 46
Last distance offered
1.25 mi
2.01 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Catchment · Gloucestershire Council
Demand for places
1.3
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,427
68 over 1,359 places · 105%
Local authority
Gloucestershire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
6.4%
First language not English
4.8%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Balcarras Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Catchment” went to a home 1.25 mi (2.01 km) from the school. Source: Gloucestershire Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 239 families put the school first and 181 places were offered; 73% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 240 (Places 188)240September 2023: 243 (Places 184)243September 2024: 231 (Places 190)231September 2025: 255 (Places 185)255September 2026: 239 (Places 181)239Places 181
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261812391.3▲73%
September 2025Sept 20251852551.4▲71%
September 2024Sept 20241902311.2▲81%
September 2023Sept 20231842431.3▲73%
September 2022Sept 20221882401.3▲76%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – CatchmentDistance
September 20261.25 mi2.01 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 58.5, and 66.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Gloucestershire it was 50.3, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B (40.3 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 60.2 (England 46.3)60.22017/18: 56.2 (England 46.5)56.22018/19: 61.1 (England 46.7)61.12021/22: 62.9 (England 48.8)62.92022/23: 60.2 (England 46.3)60.22023/24: 62.4 (England 45.9)62.42024/25: 58.5 (England 46.0)58.5England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲58.546.0
▲66.5%45.4%
▲84.0%64.8%
▲47.9%40.5%
▲5.174.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form73.3+0.1
Sixth form college6−5.2
Further education13.4+4.1
Other education0.9−0.1
Apprenticeship0.9−2
Employment1.8+1.3
Not in a lasting destination2.3+0.3
Activity not captured1.4—

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 33.5 (England 30.5)C+2016/17: 35.1 (England 31.1)B-2017/18: 37.0 (England 32.1)B-2018/19: 38.0 (England 32.9)B-2021/22: 42.0 (England 37.9)B+2022/23: 38.2 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 37.4 (England 34.4)B-2024/25: 40.3 (England 35.0)BEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
216 studentsB (40.3)Above average +0.17
216 studentsB (40.5)Above average +0.18
25 studentsDist (33.8)Above average +0.58
21.1%AAB or better
98.2%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24206B- (37.4)+0.17
2022/23165B- (38.2)—
2021/22189B+ (42)—
2018/19200B- (38)+0.34
2017/18203B- (37)+0.27
2016/17197B- (35.1)+0.20
2015/16194C+ (33.5)+0.04

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University45.5−6.9
Further and other education7.1−2.3
Further education6.6−2.3
Other education0.50
Apprenticeship5.2+3.1
Employment34.7+5.9
Not in a lasting destination6.1−0.2
Activity not captured1.4+0.4

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Balcarras School on 4 March 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.

Overall
No overall grade
Inspected
4 Mar 2025
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, May 2014

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • May 2014Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Feb 2009Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

97% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (353 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
97%
Replies
353
25% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school▲97% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲98% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲95% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲98% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▲96% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▲94% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▲96% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▲98% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲98% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▲93% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲88% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 65% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲63% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 24% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲80% agreeEngland 67%

based on 56 parents (16%) with SEND

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