John Colet School

About John Colet School

John Colet School’s Progress 8 score of 0.01 sits well below the Buckinghamshire local authority average of 0.25, placing it 22nd out of 38 secondary schools in the county. That puts it in the bottom half of the table, though the score itself is still positive — meaning pupils on average achieve slightly more than the national baseline. The gap to the LA average is notable, but it’s worth remembering that Buckinghamshire is a high-performing authority, with 12 schools rated Outstanding and selective grammar schools dominating the top of the table. For a non-selective state school, John Colet’s results are more typical of a solidly average performer nationally, sitting at the 48th percentile. Its Attainment 8 score of 46.9 and a Basics 9-4 pass rate of 73.3% show that most pupils secure decent GCSE passes, even if the school doesn’t match the county’s selective giants.

Digging into the detail, John Colet’s Progress 8 is a mixed bag. English progress is bang on average at 0.02, while maths lags slightly at -0.07. The EBacc element is the strongest area at +0.23, suggesting pupils taking that combination of subjects do particularly well. However, only 18.8% of pupils entered the EBacc, well below the national ambition. At A-level, the picture is more challenging: the school’s value-added score of -0.17 is rated ‘Below average’, and the average points per entry of 26.57 equates to a C- grade. With 63 pupils in the sixth form, it’s a relatively small cohort. Ofsted’s most recent graded inspection in 2016 rated the school Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and sixth-form provision. An ungraded inspection in 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained, a welcome sign of consistency after a previous Requires Improvement rating in 2014.

The school is oversubscribed: for 166 places in 2025/26, it received 415 applications, with 140 first-preference choices and 120 offers made to first-preference families. That’s a ratio of 2.5 applicants per place, so competition is real. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, and a sixth-form centre. The SEND register covers a wide range of needs, from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder, and 27% of responding parents said their child has SEND. Parent View responses are broadly positive: 86% would recommend the school, and 87% agree or strongly agree their child is happy. Concerns about bullying are low, with 68% saying the question wasn’t applicable. This is a school that suits families looking for a solid secondary with good facilities and a genuinely mixed intake, but who are realistic about academic outcomes compared to the county’s selective schools.

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