SGS Forest High School
57%
Capacity
257
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About SGS Forest High School
SGS Forest High School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.78 sits well below the Gloucestershire local authority average of 0.19, a gap of nearly a full grade per subject that makes it one of the lowest-performing secondary schools in the county. Ranked 40th out of 44 similar schools in the LA, it falls into the bottom 50 nationally on this measure. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 29 is also notably low, and only 8.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs (the basics 5 measure), compared with a much higher proportion taking the EBacc. Just 2.1% of students entered the full EBacc combination. These figures place the school firmly in the ‘well below average’ banding for progress, and its ranking within the Forest of Dean area is bottom of the seven schools listed.
The picture is more nuanced when you look at Ofsted’s most recent inspection, which took place in February 2024. The school was rated Requires Improvement overall, but this is a clear step up from its previous Inadequate rating in 2022. Three of the four key judgement areas were rated Good: behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Only the quality of education remains Requires Improvement. This suggests that while academic outcomes are still weak, the school’s leadership under headteacher Nicola Mooney is making tangible progress in creating a more orderly and supportive environment. The improvement in Ofsted grades, particularly in behaviour and leadership, is a positive sign for parents concerned about the school’s direction, though the academic data remains a significant concern.
The school is significantly undersubscribed relative to its capacity of 450, with just 257 pupils on roll, yet it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 71 applications for 47 places and making 41 first-preference offers. This suggests a local uptick in demand. Facilities are strong for a school of this size, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and music rooms, and the extracurricular offer is broad, with rowing, martial arts, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and Model UN among the options. SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, autism, and social, emotional and mental health support. This school may suit families who value a small, improving community school with good pastoral care and facilities, but who are prepared for academic results that currently lag significantly behind the county average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Causeway Road, Cinderford, Forest of Dean, GL14 2AZ |
| Headteacher | Nicola Mooney |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 257 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 34.6% |
| School Capacity | 257 / 450 (57% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 21 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.78)
2907th of 3,141
Nationally
294th of 306
In South West
7th of 7
In Forest of Dean
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
2022/2318%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 73 pupils).
- FE college49%
- School sixth form (stay)18%
- Not sustained12%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment7%
- Sixth form college1%
84% 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
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
2025/26Oversubscribed47
71
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
42 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:00
Source: foresthigh.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.9%
- White (other)6.2%
- Mixed2.0%
- Asian1.2%
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.
3
Total schools
3
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About SGS Forest High 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
Causeway Road, Cinderford
Forest of Dean, GL14 2AZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Reviews on Other Platforms
External reviews are provided by third-party platforms and are not verified by Classpot.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at SGS Forest High School!
Write a Review