Churchdown School
109%
Capacity
1,447
Pupils
4.0x
Demand
About Churchdown School
Churchdown School is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 973 applications for 240 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.05. Of those, 383 families put it as their first preference, and 230 first-preference offers were made. The school currently has 1,447 pupils on roll, above its official capacity of 1,332. While the Department for Education does not publish a parent view score for this school, the sheer volume of applications — nearly four applicants for every place — indicates strong local confidence. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with a sixth form, located in the Tewkesbury area of Gloucestershire.
Academically, Churchdown delivers standout results at GCSE level. Its Progress 8 score of 0.93 is well above the national average and far ahead of the Gloucestershire local authority average of 0.19. That places the school 3rd out of 44 state secondaries in the county, and 109th nationally out of 3,141 schools. In the South West region, it ranks 6th out of 306. The Attainment 8 score sits at 54.3, and 84% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.16, which is below average, and the average points per entry grade is a B-. The sixth form is rated as having 'Below average' progress, though the best three A-levels average out at a B- grade. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, the school was rated Good overall, with Good for leadership and management, and an ungraded visit confirmed it remains Good.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There are plenty of extracurricular options, from rowing and rugby to choir, Model UN, and debate club. For families with children who have additional needs, Churchdown has a broad SEND offer covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. Given its oversubscription and strong Progress 8 results, this is a school that will suit families who prioritise academic progress and want a large, well-resourced secondary with a wide choice of activities. It is not a grammar school, but its performance puts it among the strongest non-selective options in Gloucestershire.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Winston Road, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, GL3 2RB |
| Headteacher | David Potter |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,447 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,447 / 1,332 (109% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (25 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 6 Sept 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.93)
109th of 3,141
Nationally
6th of 306
In South West
1st of 6
In Tewkesbury
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
35.9
'22/23
31.7
'23/24
35.7
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
2022/2349%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 213 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)49%
- FE college28%
- Employment9%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
- Sixth form college2%
95% 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
2022/2346%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 95 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
11%
Russell Group
11%
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)46%
- Employment33%
- Not sustained12%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education2%
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- History22
- Sociology14
- Business Studies:Single13
- Biology12
- Psychology12
- English Literature10
- Film Studies9
- Chemistry8
- Mathematics7
- Religious Studies7
- Geography6
- Physics6
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.
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
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed240
973
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
383 families put this school as their 1st choice (39% 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.4%
- Mixed7.4%
- White (other)5.5%
- Asian4.1%
- Black0.5%
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.
Half 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.
8
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Churchdown 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
Winston Road, Gloucester
Tewkesbury, GL3 2RB
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