Classpot

Balcarras School

Cheltenham, GL53 8QFSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Mar 2025
Progress 8
+0.83
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
255 1st-choice / 185 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#174 of 3,141 nationally

About Balcarras School

Balcarras School is a state secondary in Cheltenham that parents clearly hold in very high regard. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, a remarkable 97% of respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That confidence is backed up by the school's popularity: for entry in 2025/26, Balcarras received 734 applications for just 185 places, an oversubscription ratio of nearly 4 to 1. Of those, 255 families put it as their first preference, and 180 of those first-preference applicants were offered a place. The school is currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a grade it has held across both its most recent inspections, and the latest graded inspection in March 2025 awarded top marks across every category inspected, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressEast End Road, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, GL53 8QF
HeadteacherDominic Burke
Local AuthorityGloucestershire
Number of Pupils1,429
Free School Meals (FSM)6.4%
School Capacity1,429 / 1,359 (105% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 353 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

4 Mar 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 15 Apr 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Sixth Form CentreGymnasiumICT SuiteAstro TurfSports HallDining HallTheatre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

FootballSwimmingMartial ArtsAthleticsGymnasticsRugbyCricket

Clubs & Activities

OrchestraEco ClubChessGardeningArt ClubNewspaperYoung EnterpriseModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Balcarras School

Balcarras School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.