Chaucer School

About Chaucer School

Ofsted's Parent View survey, based on 33 responses collected between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that only 42% of parents would recommend Chaucer School to another family, with 58% saying they would not. This is a significant signal for any parent weighing up options. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 196 applications for 126 places and 95 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.56. On specific questions, the picture is mixed: 63% of parents agree or strongly agree that their child is happy, and 60% agree their child does well. But only 30% feel concerns are dealt with properly, and just 18% think the school gives SEND children the support they need. Behaviour is a particular worry — only 36% agree the school ensures pupils are well behaved, while 57% disagree or strongly disagree. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025 rated it as Requires Improvement across all areas, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This was an upgrade from its previous Inadequate rating in June 2022.

Academically, Chaucer School's results place it well below average. Its Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -1.14, meaning pupils achieved over a grade less per subject than similar students nationally. This is significantly worse than the Sheffield local authority average of -0.4. The school ranks 27th out of 29 secondary schools in Sheffield on this measure, putting it in the bottom 10% locally, and 3065th out of 3141 schools nationally. Attainment 8, which measures average GCSE results across eight subjects, sits at 28, compared with a national average of around 46. Only 20.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and just 3.8% entered the English Baccalaureate. The EBacc average point score is 2.41. In its most recent inspection, Ofsted noted that the quality of education requires improvement, and the school does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16.

Chaucer School is a mixed, non-religious secondary for 11- to 16-year-olds in Sheffield, with 794 pupils on roll against a capacity of 900. A high 57.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, art studios, music rooms, and science labs. Sports include football, rugby, netball, and gymnastics, while clubs range from gardening and coding to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers nine areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, though only 18% of parents feel this support is adequate. The nearest outstanding-rated school is Chapeltown Academy, 3.3 km away. Given the low parent recommendation rate, below-average outcomes, and the recent Ofsted upgrade from Inadequate to Requires Improvement, this school may suit families who value its broad extracurricular offer and are prepared to work closely with staff during a period of transition.

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