The Crypt School
137%
Capacity
1,093
Pupils
4.9x
Demand
About The Crypt School
The Crypt School is a state secondary in Gloucester that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 709 applications for just 144 places, with 164 of those applicants listing it as their first preference. It currently has 1,093 pupils on roll against a capacity of 800, meaning it is operating well above its official limit. The school’s intake is notably less diverse in terms of disadvantage than the national average, with just 3.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals compared to a typical state secondary figure of around 23%. This is a selective grammar school, and its admissions data reflects the high demand from families seeking a strongly academic environment. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and has a sixth form, making it a full through-route from age 11 to 18.
Academically, The Crypt School is a high performer. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024, it was rated Outstanding across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth form provision. This continues a pattern of excellence, as its previous inspection in 2012 also awarded an Outstanding overall. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.6, which is well above average and significantly higher than the Gloucestershire local authority average of 0.19. The Attainment 8 score sits at 71.1, and 98% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the average grade per entry was a B, with a points per entry score of 38.87. The school ranks 3rd in Gloucester and 22nd in the South West region by Progress 8, placing it in the top 25% nationally.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including playing fields, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a library, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include basketball, netball, football, rugby, athletics, and martial arts, while extracurricular clubs cover debate, chess, coding, gardening, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and a school orchestra and choir. The Crypt School also provides for a wide range of special educational needs, including support for dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With its strong academic record, high demand, and comprehensive facilities, this school will particularly suit families who are focused on high attainment and a structured, ambitious environment, and who are prepared for the competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Podsmead Road, Gloucester, Gloucester, GL2 5AE |
| Headteacher | Nicholas Dyer |
| Local Authority | Gloucestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,093 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 3.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,093 / 800 (137% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 23 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.60)
370th of 3,141
Nationally
22nd of 306
In South West
3rd of 9
In Gloucester
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
40.2
'22/23
40.8
'23/24
38.9
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
2022/2390%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 144 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)90%
- FE college6%
- Sixth form college1%
- Apprenticeship1%
100% 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
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 144 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
34%
Russell Group
23%
Top-third HE
1%
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)54%
- Employment22%
- Apprenticeship10%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education1%
- Other 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- Mathematics70
- Chemistry48
- Psychology44
- Biology43
- Business Studies:Single42
- Geography36
- Physics32
- Economics25
- Physical Education / Sports Studies23
- History21
- Sociology18
- Mathematics (Further)16
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
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed144
709
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
164 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% 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 British57.1%
- Asian17.9%
- White (other)8.8%
- Mixed8.6%
- Black0.3%
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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
6
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 The Crypt 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
Podsmead Road, Gloucester
Gloucester, GL2 5AE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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