SchoolScoresThe High School Leckhampton
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE BALCARRAS TRUST
Farm Lane, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL51 3FS
01242 383351 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
173 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Cheltenham comparisons use the 7 of its 9 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 2 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.
| Statement | This school | Cheltenham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cheltenham. Higher than 98% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 95% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cheltenham. Higher than 97% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 96% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cheltenham. Higher than 97% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 93% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 46 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cheltenham. Higher than 97% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 64% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 112 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cheltenham. Higher than 99% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 87% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 7 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cheltenham. Higher than 98% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 94% | 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. Cheltenham figures pool parents at the Cheltenham 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.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 164 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 237 |
| Of those, offered a place | 158 (67%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 852 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.4 · 2026: 1.4
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Gloucestershire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 19.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.2% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.7% | 12.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.8% | 9.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 92% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 5.2% | 8.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 21.7%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 75% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 7.1 | 18.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Lower than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.7% | 6.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.17% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 67% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.6 | 17.0 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 4th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 79% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.2 | 12.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Cheltenham. Higher than 20% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 8.5% | 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
- Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Dean Close School 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 35% A*/A at A level
- Dean Close Preparatory School 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Cheltenham College 1.2 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 48% A*/A at A level
- Cheltenham Ladies' College 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 69% A*/A at A level
- St Edward's School 1.5 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 39% A*/A at A level
- Balcarras School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 67% grade 5+ English and maths
- Pate's Grammar School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 99% grade 5+ English and maths
- All Saints' Academy, Cheltenham 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), some aspects weaker 2024 · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Pittville School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The High School Leckhampton's Ofsted rating?
The High School Leckhampton was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 February 2024.
Would parents recommend The High School Leckhampton?
98% of the 173 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend The High School Leckhampton to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The High School Leckhampton oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 237 families put The High School Leckhampton as their first choice for 164 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 158 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 148563.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.