Holmer Green Senior School
141%
Capacity
1,240
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Holmer Green Senior School
Holmer Green Senior School is a mixed secondary and sixth form in Buckinghamshire that is currently significantly oversubscribed, with 621 applications for 209 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. That works out at nearly three applicants per place, and of the 184 families who put it as their first preference, 167 received an offer. The school has 1,240 pupils on roll against a capacity of 878, which suggests it is operating well above its official limit. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 10.8%, a figure that sits slightly below the national average for secondary schools and reflects the relatively less deprived demographic profile of the local area. The school does not have a religious character and is non-selective, making it a popular comprehensive option in a local authority that also contains several high-performing grammar schools.
Academically, Holmer Green delivers solid results that place it above the Buckinghamshire average. Its Progress 8 score of +0.4 is rated 'Above average' nationally, meaning pupils typically achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than similar students elsewhere. This comfortably exceeds the local authority average Progress 8 of +0.25. The Attainment 8 score of 49.6 equates to just under a grade 5 per subject, and 78.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school's value-added score is -0.02, which is broadly in line with expectations, and the average points per entry of 34.11 translates to a C+ grade. The sixth form provision was rated 'Requires improvement' in the most recent graded inspection, though the school as a whole holds a Good Ofsted rating, having improved from Requires improvement in its previous inspection.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers rugby, hockey, football, cricket, and martial arts, while extracurricular options include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, coding, orchestra, and Young Enterprise. SEND support is comprehensive, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, plus a resourced provision. Given its oversubscription and strong Progress 8 performance, Holmer Green is a good fit for families seeking a non-selective secondary with above-average academic progress and a broad co-curricular offer, particularly those who can secure a place through proximity or catchment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Parish Piece, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP15 6SP |
| Headteacher | Edward Hillyard |
| Local Authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,240 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,240 / 878 (141% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Dec 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (1 Dec 2021): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Jun 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.40)
659th of 3,141
Nationally
106th of 461
In South East
16th of 34
In Buckinghamshire
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.8
'22/23
37.5
'23/24
34.1
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
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 152 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college28%
- Sixth form college15%
- Apprenticeship6%
- 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
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 55 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
24%
Top-third HE
2%
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)55%
- Employment27%
- Not sustained11%
- Apprenticeship2%
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- Mathematics30
- Psychology17
- Business Studies:Single16
- English Literature15
- Biology14
- Geography14
- Physics10
- Religious Studies10
- Sociology10
- Chemistry8
- Art and Design7
- Art and Design (Textiles)6
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
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed209
621
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
184 families put this school as their 1st choice (30% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.6%
- Asian14.0%
- Mixed7.5%
- White (other)4.7%
- 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.
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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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 Holmer Green Senior 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
Parish Piece, High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire, HP15 6SP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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