Stroud High School
132%
Capacity
1,106
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About Stroud High School
Parents considering Stroud High School will be reassured by the strong signals of local demand and satisfaction. The school is significantly oversubscribed, with 404 applications for 146 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.77. Of those, 172 families put it as their first preference, and 119 first-preference offers were made. While the school does not publish a formal parent satisfaction survey, these numbers speak volumes about its reputation in Gloucestershire. The school is a girls' state secondary with a co-educational sixth form, and it operates well above its official capacity of 835 pupils, currently teaching 1,106 students. This popularity is backed by a clean sweep of Outstanding grades across all categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision. The headteacher, Mark McShane, leads a school that clearly commands strong confidence from local families.
Academically, Stroud High School delivers results that place it among the strongest schools in the region. Its Progress 8 score of 0.85 is classified as well above average nationally and far exceeds the Gloucestershire local authority average of 0.19. In the South West, it ranks 9th out of 306 schools on this measure, and nationally it sits in the top 5% of all schools. The Attainment 8 score is 74.9, and 99.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also performs strongly in the English Baccalaureate, with 44% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. At A-level, the average grade per entry is a B, with a points-per-entry score of 41.66. The value-added score for sixth form is 0.02, which is rated as average, meaning students make expected progress. The best three A-levels average out at a B+ grade, and 23.8% of entries achieved grades AAB or higher.
The school offers a broad range of facilities that support both academic and extracurricular life, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sports hall, art studios, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, netball, gymnastics, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to eco club and young enterprise. The school has a comprehensive SEND register, with provisions for dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. Stroud High School is a selective grammar school, and the high oversubscription ratio reflects its academic focus. It will suit families who are looking for a high-performing, single-sex state school with a strong track record in both GCSEs and A-levels, and who are comfortable navigating a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Beards Lane, Stroud, Stroud, GL5 4HF |
| Headteacher | Mark McShane |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,106 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 2.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,106 / 835 (132% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 17 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.85)
153rd of 3,141
Nationally
9th of 306
In South West
1st of 9
In Stroud
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
45.2
'22/23
40.1
'23/24
41.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2348%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 142 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
50%
Russell Group
51%
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)48%
- Employment27%
- Further education11%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship4%
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed146
404
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
172 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British61.6%
- Asian13.3%
- White (other)5.8%
- Mixed5.0%
- Black0.9%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half 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.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
8
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stroud 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
Beards Lane, Stroud
Stroud, GL5 4HF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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