The Mandeville School
100%
Capacity
1,001
Pupils
1.1x
Demand
About The Mandeville School
The Mandeville School’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.78 places it well below the Buckinghamshire local authority average of 0.25, a gap of over a full grade per subject per pupil. This is a stark contrast in a county where grammar schools like Dr Challoner’s Grammar School and The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe achieve scores above 1.1. Among 38 secondary schools in the authority, Mandeville ranks 33rd, putting it in the bottom 15% locally and the bottom 8% nationally. Its Attainment 8 score of 36.4 is also low, and only 31.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school’s Ebacc entry rate is just 9.2%, far below typical levels, and the Ebacc average point score sits at 3.03. These figures paint a picture of a school that is significantly underperforming compared with its selective-heavy local area.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2024 judged its overall effectiveness as not graded, but the quality of education was rated Inadequate, while behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision all received Requires improvement. Only personal development was rated Good. This is a downgrade from the previous 2018 inspection, which rated the school Requires improvement overall. Parent View responses, collected between September 2024 and September 2025 from 68 respondents, show mixed feelings: 62% would recommend the school, but only 41% agreed their child is happy, and just 34% felt concerns are dealt with properly. On SEND support, 50% strongly disagreed that children get the help they need. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 251 applications for 222 places, though only 110 first-preference offers were made.
The Mandeville School is a mixed, non-selective secondary with a sixth form, serving 1,001 pupils at full capacity. It has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 27.7%, well above the national average. Facilities are extensive, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and music rooms, and the school offers a wide range of sports and clubs from rugby and martial arts to coding and Model UN. SEND provisions cover eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder and speech, language and communication needs. For families considering this school, the data suggests a setting with strong facilities and a broad extracurricular offer, but one that is currently struggling with academic outcomes and leadership. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Aylesbury High School, 1.7 km away, which may be a more viable option for families prioritising attainment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ellen Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 8ES |
| Headteacher | Sara Durose |
| Local Authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,001 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,001 / 1,001 (100% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Inadequate
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 23 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.78)
2909th of 3,141
Nationally
419th of 461
In South East
33rd of 34
In Buckinghamshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2342%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 145 pupils).
- FE college44%
- School sixth form (stay)42%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained3%
95% 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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology16
- Biology9
- Chemistry7
- English Literature5
- Mathematics3
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
68 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
21Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed222
251
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
110 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: mandeville.bucks.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British43.1%
- Asian30.5%
- Mixed8.3%
- White (other)7.1%
- Black1.0%
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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
3
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 Mandeville 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
Ellen Road, Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire, HP21 8ES
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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