Cheam High School
106%
Capacity
2,103
Pupils
4.5x
Demand
About Cheam High School
Cheam High School sits within the London borough of Sutton, a local authority known for its strong secondary school performance. Among the 14 state secondary schools in Sutton, Cheam ranks 11th by Progress 8 score, placing it in the lower half of the LA table. The top-performing peers in the borough are all selective grammar schools: Wilson's School, Sutton Grammar School for Boys, and Nonsuch High School for Girls, each with Progress 8 scores well above 1.0. Cheam, by contrast, is a non-selective comprehensive with a Progress 8 score of 0.05, meaning its pupils achieve very slightly above the national average. The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 335 places in the 2025/26 academic year, it received 1,518 applications, with 310 first-preference applications and 258 first-preference offers. This level of demand suggests strong local reputation, even if its ranking within Sutton is modest compared to the grammar schools.
Academically, Cheam delivers solid results across both key stages. At KS4, the school's Attainment 8 score is 51.9, and 79.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 38%, with 27.5% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Progress 8 is 0.05, which is classified as 'Average' nationally but sits below the Sutton LA average of 0.53. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding grades for behaviour and attitudes and for leadership and management. The sixth form was also rated Good, with a value-added score of 0.17, classed as 'Above average', and an average points per entry of 33.31, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels averaged 34.58 points, also a C+. These outcomes show a school that performs reliably at KS4 and adds strong value at KS5.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre. It offers a wide range of sports and clubs, from netball and hockey to debate and coding. SEND provision covers nine categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses from 190 respondents are broadly positive: 91% of parents said their child is happy at the school (combining 'agree' and 'strongly agree'), and 88% would recommend it. However, only 67% agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, with 34% disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. Cheam is a large, oversubscribed comprehensive that suits families seeking a well-run, inclusive school with strong sixth-form outcomes, particularly those who value the breadth of facilities and extracurricular options available in a high-demand Sutton setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Chatsworth Road, Sutton, Sutton, SM3 8PW |
| Headteacher | Peter Naudi |
| Local Authority | Sutton |
| Number of Pupils | 2,103 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.1% |
| School Capacity | 2,103 / 1,980 (106% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 May 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 1 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.05)
1415th of 3,141
Nationally
343rd of 487
In London
11th of 14
In Sutton
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.7
'22/23
34.8
'23/24
33.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2363%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 297 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)63%
- FE college25%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained2%
- Sixth form college1%
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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2361%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 217 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
10%
Russell Group
15%
Top-third HE
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)61%
- Employment25%
- Not sustained8%
- 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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology57
- Sociology53
- Business Studies:Single52
- Mathematics52
- Biology29
- Economics29
- Accounting / Finance28
- History25
- Physics24
- English Language and Literature19
- Religious Studies17
- Physical Education / Sports Studies14
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
190 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed335
1,518
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
310 families put this school as their 1st choice (20% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British57.2%
- Asian19.6%
- White (other)8.6%
- Mixed8.2%
- Black0.6%
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.
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.
13
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
10
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 Cheam 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
Chatsworth Road, Sutton
Sutton, SM3 8PW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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