The High School Leckhampton

About The High School Leckhampton

The High School Leckhampton is a state secondary for 11- to 16-year-olds in Cheltenham, and its intake data tells a story of a school that is in high demand. With a capacity of 900, it currently has 578 pupils on roll, leaving room for growth, but the oversubscription figures suggest that growth is already happening fast. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 829 applications for just 172 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.82. Of those, 235 families put it as their first preference, and 160 of those were offered a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 8.5%, which is below the national average for secondary schools, indicating a relatively less deprived catchment. The school is non-denominational and mixed, and it has no sixth form or nursery provision, so it is purely a secondary option for families looking for a strong academic start through to GCSEs.

Academically, the school is on strong footing. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in February 2024, awarded it an Outstanding rating across all five graded categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This places it among just six Outstanding-rated secondary schools in Gloucestershire out of a total of 44 state secondaries. While the school does not have a sixth form, its Progress 8 score is not directly listed in the data, but the local authority average Progress 8 score for secondary schools is 0.19, which is above the national average of zero. The school’s closest academic peers in the area include Pate's Grammar School, Churchdown School, and Denmark Road High School, all of which have strong ranking scores. For parents focused on GCSE outcomes, this is a school that has been judged to deliver an Outstanding quality of education, with excellent behaviour and personal development noted by inspectors.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including science labs, music rooms, a theatre, astro turf, and a sports hall, alongside clubs such as Young Enterprise, debate, orchestra, and gardening. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, martial arts, and rugby. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing impairment, and social, emotional and mental health support. The school is oversubscribed, so families should be prepared for a competitive admissions process, particularly if they are not in the immediate catchment. Given its Outstanding rating, strong demand, and broad extracurricular offer, this school is likely to suit families who value academic rigour and a well-structured environment, and who are willing to navigate a high-pressure admissions round to secure a place.

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