The Radcliffe School
95%
Capacity
1,210
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About The Radcliffe School
The Radcliffe School’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025 judged its overall effectiveness as “Not judged,” but the graded inspection found the quality of education “Requires improvement,” a step down from the “Good” rating it held in 2020. The school’s Progress 8 score for 2023/24 sits at -0.62, which is “Well below average” nationally and ranks it 10th out of 12 secondary schools in Milton Keynes. That score is significantly lower than the local authority average of -0.21, meaning pupils here make less academic progress between Key Stage 2 and GCSEs than their peers across Milton Keynes. The Attainment 8 score of 39.5 out of 90 reflects the average grade a student achieves across eight subjects, and just 35.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. On the EBacc measure, only 7% of students secured a grade 5 or better across the full suite of academic subjects, though 82.2% entered the EBacc pathway.
At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.44, also “Below average,” and the average points per entry is 27.92, equivalent to a grade C-. The best three A-levels average out at a C- grade. The sixth form provision itself was rated “Good” by Ofsted, which is a bright spot, and the school has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre. For parents weighing up options, the data suggests that while the school offers a broad curriculum and a full range of GCSE and A-level subjects, its academic outcomes are weaker than most other state secondaries in Milton Keynes. The nearest outstanding-rated school, Watling Academy, is 2.9 km away.
The Radcliffe School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary with 1,210 pupils on roll, close to its capacity of 1,275. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, there were 401 applications for 201 places, with 213 first-preference applications and 190 first-preference offers. That suggests strong local demand despite the academic picture. The school has a wide range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, science labs, music rooms, and playing fields, and offers clubs from Film Club and Eco Club to Duke of Edinburgh and Model UN. Sports provision covers cricket, rugby, swimming, and netball among others. For SEND, the school lists provisions for 11 categories including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs. In the Parent View survey, 69% of respondents would recommend the school, and 88% agreed or strongly agreed that their child can take part in clubs and activities. However, only 44% agreed that SEND children get the support they need, and 30% disagreed. This is a large, busy comprehensive that suits families who value breadth of opportunity and a full sixth form, but where academic results are a concern.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Christchurch Grove, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, MK12 5BT |
| Headteacher | Paula Lawson |
| Local Authority | Milton Keynes |
| Number of Pupils | 1,210 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,210 / 1,275 (95% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Mar 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 29 Apr 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.62)
2759th of 3,141
Nationally
396th of 461
In South East
10th of 12
In Milton Keynes
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
32.7
'22/23
33.4
'23/24
27.9
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
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 198 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- FE college37%
- Employment7%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained4%
94% 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: 77 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
11%
Russell Group
14%
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)55%
- Employment30%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education3%
- 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- English Literature18
- Media/Film/Tv Studies14
- Psychology14
- Biology12
- Government and Politics12
- Mathematics10
- Geography9
- Economics8
- Chemistry7
- History6
- Physics6
- Film Studies5
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
166 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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed201
401
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
213 families put this school as their 1st choice (53% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:00
Source: radcliffeschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British63.0%
- Asian14.8%
- Mixed7.4%
- White (other)4.5%
- 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.
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.
6
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
5
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 Radcliffe 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
Christchurch Grove, Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes, MK12 5BT
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