Bramhall High School
95%
Capacity
1,282
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Bramhall High School
Bramhall High School is a popular choice among local families, with 870 applications for 304 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.86. Of those, 165 first-preference offers were made, indicating strong demand for this 11-16 mixed state secondary in Stockport. The school currently has 1,282 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,350, so it is operating close to its limit. While the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high application numbers suggest a solid reputation in the area. Headteacher Paul Williams leads a school that was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in September 2023, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The inspection report highlighted Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Academically, Bramhall High School sits in the middle of the pack locally. Its Progress 8 score of -0.08 is rated as Average, placing it 8th out of 13 secondary schools in Stockport. This is slightly below the local authority average of 0.07, but the school's Attainment 8 score of 48.9 is respectable. In terms of the basics measure, 72.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though this drops to 46.7% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.4, with 38.8% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. Nationally, the school ranks 1,710th out of 3,141 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of schools but not far from the median. The school's performance in English is exactly in line with the national average, while maths and EBacc subjects are slightly below.
The school offers a range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, gymnasium, theatre, and music rooms, which support a broad extracurricular programme. Sports on offer include swimming, athletics, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs cover drama, coding, choir, and science. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school provides support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication issues, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 18% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Cheadle Hulme High School, 2.3 km away, which may be a consideration for some families. Bramhall High School suits families looking for a large, oversubscribed secondary that has improved its Ofsted rating and offers solid, if not exceptional, academic outcomes within a well-equipped setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Seal Road, Stockport, Stockport, SK7 2JT |
| Headteacher | Paul Williams |
| Local Authority | Stockport |
| Number of Pupils | 1,282 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,282 / 1,350 (95% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 3 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.08)
1710th of 3,141
Nationally
194th of 445
In North West
8th of 13
In Stockport
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/236%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 216 pupils).
- Sixth form college58%
- FE college26%
- School sixth form (stay)6%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship1%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed304
870
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
165 families put this school as their 1st choice (19% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 14:50
Source: bhsweb.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.8%
- Asian13.7%
- Mixed6.2%
- White (other)4.3%
- 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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
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 Bramhall High 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
Seal Road, Stockport
Stockport, SK7 2JT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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