Dr Challoner's High School

About Dr Challoner's High School

If you're a parent in Buckinghamshire considering Dr Challoner's High School, the numbers alone tell a compelling story about its popularity. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 658 applications for just 188 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.5, meaning nearly four families competed for every spot. Of those, 285 put it as their first preference, and 182 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand is a strong signal from local parents. While the data doesn't include a formal parent-view survey percentage, the sheer volume of applications suggests a school that families are actively choosing. It's a girls' state secondary for ages 11 to 18, with no religious character, and it's non-boarding. The headteacher is Alan Roe, and the school currently has 1,358 pupils on roll, which is notably above its official capacity of 1,145, indicating it's operating at full stretch.

Academically, Dr Challoner's High School is a powerhouse. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Outstanding across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. That's a clean sweep. The Progress 8 score for 2023/24 is 1.11, which is well above the local authority average of 0.25 and places the school 3rd out of 34 schools in Buckinghamshire, and 44th nationally out of 3,141 schools. The Attainment 8 score is 78.2, and 99.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the average points per entry is 44.89, equivalent to a B+, and 43.1% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The best three A-levels averaged an A- grade. The EBacc average point score is 7.67, and 97.2% of pupils entered the EBacc, with 89.4% achieving a grade 5 or above in it.

The school is well-equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a theatre, science labs, art studios, music rooms, and a sixth-form centre. There's a broad range of clubs and sports, from chess and coding to netball and rugby. The school also has a substantial SEND provision, covering areas from dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder to hearing impairment and physical disability. Given its selective nature and high academic outcomes, this school will suit families whose daughters are high-achieving and thrive in a focused, ambitious environment. The oversubscription means you'll need to be on top of the admissions process, particularly the Buckinghamshire grammar school test. It's a school that delivers exceptional results, but it's also one where demand far outstrips supply.

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