Alcester Grammar School
100%
Capacity
1,294
Pupils
5.3x
Demand
About Alcester Grammar School
Alcester Grammar School is one of the strongest academic performers in Warwickshire, with an Ofsted Outstanding rating from its most recent inspection in 2022 and a Progress 8 score of 0.56, which the Department for Education classes as 'well above average'. That score means pupils here achieve more than half a grade higher per subject than the national average, and it sits well above the local authority average of 0.02. The school ranks 5th out of 42 state secondary schools in Warwickshire, and nationally it sits in the top 13% of all schools. Its Attainment 8 score of 73.2 is similarly high, and a remarkable 100% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school is selective, and its EBacc average point score of 7.09 reflects a strong academic intake, but the progress data shows that pupils are genuinely stretched beyond what their starting points would predict.
At A-level, the school's sixth form also performs strongly. The average points per entry is 40.96, equivalent to a B grade, and the best three A-levels average out at a B as well. The value-added score of 0.17 is positive, meaning students leave sixth form with better results than expected, and the progress banding is rated 'above average'. A quarter of all entries (24.2%) were graded AAB or higher, which is a strong indicator for Russell Group university applications. The school enters 85% of its pupils for the EBacc suite of subjects, and 81.7% achieve a grade 5 or above in it. In maths, the Progress 8 score is 0.69, and in English it is 0.29, suggesting the school is particularly effective at driving progress in maths. The sixth form has 254 pupils, making it a substantial part of the school.
Alcester Grammar is heavily oversubscribed: for 151 places in 2025/26, it received 797 applications, with 291 first-preference applications and only 66 first-preference offers — an oversubscription ratio of 5.28. It is a mixed, non-denominational state grammar school for pupils aged 11 to 18, with a capacity of 1290 and currently 1294 pupils on roll. The school has a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, theatre, and a sixth form centre. It offers a broad set of sports from rowing to rugby, and clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Young Enterprise, and a school newspaper. SEND provision covers dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing and visual impairments, and physical disabilities, though only 1.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is very low. This is a school for academically able children who thrive in a structured, high-expectation environment and are likely to aim for competitive university courses.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Birmingham Road, Alcester, Stratford-on-Avon, B49 5ED |
| Headteacher | Rachel Thorpe |
| Local Authority | Warwickshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,294 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 1.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,294 / 1,290 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Dec 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.56)
417th of 3,141
Nationally
33rd of 371
In West Midlands
3rd of 10
In Stratford-on-Avon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
42.5
'22/23
40.6
'23/24
41.0
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 292 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
40%
Russell Group
45%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)59%
- Employment28%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed151
797
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
291 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British71.2%
- Asian13.7%
- Mixed6.8%
- White (other)5.5%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alcester Grammar School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Birmingham Road, Alcester
Stratford-on-Avon, B49 5ED
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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