Sir William Ramsay School

About Sir William Ramsay School

Sir William Ramsay School sits in a local authority where the average Progress 8 score for secondary schools is a strong 0.25, but its own score of -0.45 places it well below that benchmark. This puts the school in the bottom half of schools nationally, ranking 30th out of 34 in Buckinghamshire and in the bottom 50 per cent of schools across England. The gap is particularly noticeable in open subjects and English, where Progress 8 scores of -0.7 and -0.52 respectively suggest pupils make significantly less progress than their peers in the county. Maths progress is closer to the LA average at -0.2, but the overall picture is one of a school that is struggling to match the high standards typical of Buckinghamshire, a selective authority where many neighbouring schools achieve well above average results.

At Key Stage 4, the school's Attainment 8 score sits at 36.2, and just over half of pupils (52.1 per cent) achieve a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 22.4 per cent at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.12, and only 13 per cent of pupils enter the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the picture is similarly challenging: the school's value added score is -0.29, placing it in the 'below average' band, and the average grade per entry is a D. The best three A-levels average out at a D+ grade, and no pupils achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. With a cohort of 49 sixth-form students, the school is relatively small post-16, and the progress banding suggests that students here typically leave with lower grades than their prior attainment would predict.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including tennis courts, playing fields, art studios, music rooms, a theatre, library and chapel, and fields teams in football, netball, rugby, rowing, hockey and cricket among others. Clubs such as orchestra, science club, coding and debate provide enrichment beyond the classroom. With 1,033 pupils on roll, it is a reasonably sized secondary. The school's most recent Ofsted rating is Inadequate, which will be a significant factor for families considering it. For parents who prioritise academic outcomes and are looking at schools in Buckinghamshire, Sir William Ramsay sits in a competitive landscape where the nearest outstanding school, Wycombe High School, is just 4.7 km away. This school may suit families who value its inclusive, non-selective intake and wide extracurricular offer, but who are prepared to engage closely with the school's improvement journey.

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