Royal Latin School
111%
Capacity
1,322
Pupils
3.2x
Demand
About Royal Latin School
If you’re a parent weighing up Royal Latin School, the numbers suggest it’s a popular choice. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 552 applications for 173 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.19. Of those, 372 families put it as their first preference, and 168 first-preference offers were made. That kind of demand usually reflects strong word of mouth, and while the school doesn’t publish a parent-view survey score, the sheer volume of applications tells its own story. The school is a state-funded mixed secondary in Buckinghamshire, with a sixth form, and it’s non-denominational. It’s also oversubscribed by a significant margin, so if you’re considering it, you’ll want to be confident in your catchment or selection criteria. The headteacher is Ian Chislett, and the school has 1,322 pupils on roll, which is above its stated capacity of 1,189.
Academically, Royal Latin performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.59 is more than double the Buckinghamshire LA average of 0.25, placing it 11th out of 34 schools in the county and in the top 25% nationally. At KS4, 95.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and the EBacc average point score was 6.73. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, but with Outstanding marks for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision. The sixth form itself is strong: A-level students averaged B+ per entry, with 44.8% achieving at least AAB in two facilitating subjects. The value-added score of 0.12 is rated above average, meaning students typically leave with better results than their prior attainment would predict.
On the practical side, the school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, chapel, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. There’s a strong extracurricular programme with clubs covering drama, debate, coding, Model UN, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, plus sports like rowing, hockey, and athletics. For SEND, the school supports a wide range of needs including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With 4.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is less diverse economically than the national average, which is typical for selective-adjacent schools in Buckinghamshire. This is a school for families who prioritise strong academic outcomes and a structured, high-expectation environment, and who are prepared to navigate a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Chandos Road, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, MK18 1AX |
| Headteacher | Ian Chislett |
| Local Authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,322 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 4.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,322 / 1,189 (111% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.59)
390th of 3,141
Nationally
67th of 461
In South East
11th of 34
In Buckinghamshire
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
47.3
'22/23
42.9
'23/24
44.1
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
2022/2395%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 171 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)95%
- FE college3%
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
2022/2371%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 208 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
54%
Russell Group
62%
Top-third HE
3%
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)71%
- Employment13%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education1%
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- Mathematics106
- Biology103
- Chemistry101
- Physics58
- Psychology53
- Economics31
- English Literature29
- Government and Politics20
- History20
- Mathematics (Further)19
- Business Studies:Single18
- Geography15
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed173
552
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
372 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:30
Source: royallatin.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British47.3%
- Asian29.2%
- White (other)6.0%
- Mixed5.9%
- Black2.0%
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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
6
Total schools
5
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 Royal Latin 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
Chandos Road, Buckingham
Buckinghamshire, MK18 1AX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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