Chesham Grammar School
109%
Capacity
1,326
Pupils
6.2x
Demand
About Chesham Grammar School
Chesham Grammar School’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.84 is more than three times the Buckinghamshire local authority average of 0.25, placing it firmly among the county’s strongest performers. That gap is not just a statistical quirk — it reflects a school where pupils consistently make well above the expected level of academic progress. In fact, the school ranks 8th out of 38 secondary schools in the authority, and sits in the top 5% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 76.7 is exceptionally high, and every single pupil achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school is also a grammar school, so its intake is selective, but the data shows it makes the most of that starting point: the EBacc average point score of 7.51 and the fact that over 90% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects underline a strong academic focus.
Ofsted’s most recent inspection in March 2025 awarded the school Outstanding in every category that was judged — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This is a clean sweep, and it matches the Outstanding rating the school has held since at least its previous inspection in 2014. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.19 is rated as above average, and pupils achieved an average grade of A- per entry, with 43.6% of entries graded AAB or higher. The sixth form is clearly a strength, and the school’s progress in EBacc subjects (a Progress 8 score of 1.08) is particularly striking. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 97% of respondents would recommend the school, and 98% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there.
The school is heavily oversubscribed — for 178 places in 2025/26, it received 1,102 applications, a ratio of over six to one. Of those, 262 were first-preference applications, and 156 first-preference offers were made. Facilities include science labs, a sixth-form centre, art studios, playing fields, and a chapel. The sports programme covers swimming, cricket, netball, tennis, and gymnastics, among others, and clubs range from Film Club to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise. SEND support is available for specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing impairment, and social, emotional and mental health needs, though only 17% of parents responding to the Parent View survey said their child had SEND. This is a school for academically able children who thrive in a structured, high-expectation environment — and given the competition for places, families will need to be prepared for a selective admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | White Hill, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, HP5 1BA |
| Headteacher | Annmarie McNaney |
| Local Authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,326 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 2.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,326 / 1,219 (109% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.84)
164th of 3,141
Nationally
24th of 461
In South East
7th of 34
In Buckinghamshire
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
45.5
'22/23
43.8
'23/24
45.6
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
2022/2394%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 179 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)94%
- FE college4%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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
2022/2372%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 205 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
49%
Russell Group
56%
Top-third HE
3%
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)72%
- Employment13%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship4%
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- Mathematics120
- Psychology64
- Economics57
- Biology46
- History45
- Chemistry42
- Geography41
- Sociology39
- Government and Politics33
- Physics33
- English Literature30
- Mathematics (Further)23
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
477 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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
1,102
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
262 families put this school as their 1st choice (24% 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British63.0%
- Asian19.7%
- Mixed8.0%
- White (other)5.4%
- Black0.1%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
7
Total schools
5
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 Chesham 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
White Hill, Chesham
Buckinghamshire, HP5 1BA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Chesham Grammar School!
Write a Review