SGS Forest High School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND STROUD ACADEMY TRUST

Causeway Road, Cinderford, GL14 2AZ

01594 822257 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 20 February 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%England 45% · 2024/25
34th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 24% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils255Room for 450 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 324 in 2019, 295 in 2021, 282 in 2022, 281 in 2023, 280 in 2024, 257 in 2025, 255 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.930 for 35 places, September 2026
31st highest of 40 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 32% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 20 February 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.

Gloucestershire comparisons use the 23 of its 41 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 18 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 20th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
72% 88% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 21st highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 13% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
68% 90% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
21st highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
60% 83% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied
19th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 29% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
42% 52% 50%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 21 parents who had raised a concern
20th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 32% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
62% 76% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
21st highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 17% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
60%said yes 85% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Gloucestershire figures pool parents at the Gloucestershire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

45 pupils in this year group.

33% — 20 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 12 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 33% 53% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 35.6 50.3 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.1 4.4 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 20%This school 2023/24: 8%This school 2024/25: 33% This school England 45% 2022/23 20% 2023/24 8% 2024/25 33%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

59 pupils in this year group.

86% — 7 points below the Gloucestershire average, and 6 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 86% 93% 92%
School sixth form 15% 46% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 11% 13%
Further education college 58% 26% 37%
Apprenticeship 10% 4% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
87%86%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Gloucestershire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered35
Families who put it first30
Of those, offered a place30 (100%)
Families who listed it at all55

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Gloucestershire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 69% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
35.4% 19.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
9th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.5% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 98% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.5% 12.7%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
10th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.4% 9.9%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
20th lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.2% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
23rd lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 44% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
24.6% 21.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
41st lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
110.5 18.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
41st lowest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Lower than 0% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
27.6% 6.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.78% 0.17% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
41st highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 5% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
13.6 17.0 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
40th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 10% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.7 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
14th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Gloucestershire.
Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.3% 11.3%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is SGS Forest High School's Ofsted rating?

SGS Forest High School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 February 2024.

How did SGS Forest High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 33% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend SGS Forest High School?

60% of the 25 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend SGS Forest High School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is SGS Forest High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 30 families put SGS Forest High School as their first choice for 35 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 30 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.