The Highcrest Academy
100%
Capacity
1,072
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About The Highcrest Academy
The Highcrest Academy is a mixed secondary school in Buckinghamshire that is currently running at full capacity, with 1,072 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,069. Its intake reflects a significantly higher-than-average level of disadvantage: 35.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with a national secondary average of around 24%. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 458 applications for 169 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.71 to one. Of those, 194 families put it as their first preference, and 129 first-preference offers were made. The school is non-denominational and serves the 11–18 age range, with an official sixth form. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in December 2024, confirmed the school remains Good overall, though inspectors noted some aspects were not as strong. The previous graded inspection in 2016 also rated it Good, a clear improvement from the Requires Improvement judgement it received in 2013.
Academically, the school's Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.39, which places it in the 'Below average' banding nationally. That is notably below the Buckinghamshire local authority average of +0.25, and ranks it 29th out of 34 secondary schools in the county. The Attainment 8 score was 39.9, and 38.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 25.8%, with 11% achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is more encouraging: the value-added score was +0.07, classed as 'Average', with a points per entry of 25.94 (equivalent to a C- grade). The best three A-levels averaged a C- grade. Parental opinion, gathered through Ofsted's Parent View between September 2024 and September 2025, was broadly positive: 85% of the 124 respondents would recommend the school, and 86% agreed or strongly agreed that their child does well there.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rugby, cricket, badminton, and martial arts, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to Model UN and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and physical disabilities. However, the Parent View data suggests some mixed feelings here: 40% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, while 29% disagreed or strongly disagreed. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying will need to be aware of the competitive admissions process. Given its below-average Progress 8 but strong sixth-form value added and broad extracurricular offer, The Highcrest Academy may suit families who prioritise a full secondary experience and a supportive sixth form over headline GCSE outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Hatters Lane, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 7NQ |
| Headteacher | Glen Burke |
| Local Authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,072 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 35.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,072 / 1,069 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (11 Dec 2024): Some aspects not as strong
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Apr 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.39)
2436th of 3,141
Nationally
353rd of 461
In South East
29th of 34
In Buckinghamshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
31.4
'22/23
24.0
'23/24
25.9
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
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 172 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college26%
- Sixth form college9%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship2%
91% 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
2022/2355%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 74 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
8%
Russell Group
8%
Top-third HE
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)55%
- Employment26%
- Not sustained11%
- 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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology16
- Mathematics13
- Sociology13
- Accounting / Finance11
- Religious Studies10
- History7
- Law7
- Biology6
- Chemistry6
- Physics5
- Art and Design4
- English Literature4
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.
Ofsted Parent View
124 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed169
458
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
194 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:10
Breakfast club
07:30-08:20
Source: highcrestacademy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian37.0%
- White British30.4%
- Mixed11.6%
- White (other)10.5%
- Black0.7%
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.
9
Total schools
7
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 Highcrest Academy
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
Hatters Lane, High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire, HP13 7NQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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