SchoolScoresThe Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School
Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed · Church of England
Hampton Dene Road, Tupsley, Hereford, HR1 1UU
01432 347501 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 10 February 2026 , published 19 April 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
257 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Higher than 22% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Higher than 28% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Higher than 34% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 67 parents whose child had been bullied Higher than 24% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 33% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 233 parents who had raised a concern Higher than 22% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 76 parents of children with SEND Higher than 22% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 41% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Higher than 28% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 70%said yes | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 24%). 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. 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
203 pupils in this year group.
47% — 4 points above the Herefordshire, County of average, and 1 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 47% | 43% | 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. | 45.9 | 44.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
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.
199 pupils in this year group.
96% — 4 points above the Herefordshire, County of average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 96% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 8% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 50% | 37% | 13% |
| Further education college | 40% | 38% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 97% | 96% |
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 Herefordshire, County of. 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 offered | 215 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 189 |
| Of those, offered a place | 184 (97%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 386 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 8 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Visual impairment; Other difficulties or disabilities; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Herefordshire, County of | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 20.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Higher than 55% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Higher than 46% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.1% | 18.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.8% | 10.2%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Lower than 45% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.6% | 8.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Lower than 44% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 24.8% | 21.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Lower than 75% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0 | 13.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Lower than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.18% | 0.25% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Higher than 90% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 19.3 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Higher than 66% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.5 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 9th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Hereford. Higher than 2% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 3.1% | 13.5%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Aylestone School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hereford Sixth Form College 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- St Mary's RC High School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2024 · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hereford Cathedral School With A Junior School 1.3 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 35% A*/A at A level
- The Hereford CofE Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- Whitecross Hereford 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School's Ofsted rating?
The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 10 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 47% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 1 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School?
70% of the 257 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 189 families put The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School as their first choice for 215 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 184 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 116991.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.