Cirencester Deer Park School
97%
Capacity
1,017
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Cirencester Deer Park School
Cirencester Deer Park School holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, and the data shows it is performing well above the local average academically. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.28 is not only above the national average of zero but also comfortably ahead of the Gloucestershire local authority average of 0.19. This places it 14th out of 44 similar schools in the county and second among the six schools in the Cotswold district. In the South West region, it ranks 71st out of 306 schools, putting it in the top quarter nationally at the 28th percentile. The Attainment 8 score of 51.3 means the average pupil achieves just over five strong GCSE passes, while 77.3% of students secure a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, and 58.2% achieve the higher grade 5 benchmark.
Breaking down the Progress 8 figures further, the school shows particular strength in the EBacc subjects, with a Progress 8 score of 0.45, compared to 0.27 in English and 0.26 in maths. The EBacc average point score of 4.63 reflects solid performance across the core academic subjects, and 38.1% of pupils entered the full EBacc combination. The school’s Progress 8 banding is classified as “Above average,” and the confidence interval (0.07 to 0.49) suggests this is a reliable result rather than a statistical fluke. Compared with its previous Ofsted inspection in 2010, when it was rated Outstanding, the school has maintained a Good rating across its two most recent inspections, with leadership and management also judged Good. There is no sixth form provision, so pupils leave after Year 11.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 507 applications for 203 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.5, with 172 of 186 first-preference applicants offered a place. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and playing fields, plus dedicated art studios, music rooms, and an ICT suite. The SEND department covers a wide range of needs, from dyslexia and moderate learning difficulties to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disabilities. With 15.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative intake. It will suit families looking for a strong academic secondary that consistently outperforms the local authority average, with a wide choice of sports and clubs including DofE, Young Enterprise, and coding.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Stroud Road, Cirencester, Cotswold, GL7 1XB |
| Headteacher | Esther Messinger |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,017 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,017 / 1,045 (97% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (18 Jan 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jul 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.28)
890th of 3,141
Nationally
71st of 306
In South West
2nd of 6
In Cotswold
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2311%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 161 pupils).
- Sixth form college67%
- School sixth form (stay)11%
- FE college11%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship2%
96% 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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed203
507
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
186 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Source: deerparkschool.net. 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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.7%
- White (other)6.1%
- Mixed3.9%
- Asian1.8%
- 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
2024/2575% 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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
2
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 Cirencester Deer Park 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
Stroud Road, Cirencester
Cotswold, GL7 1XB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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