The Radcliffe School

Foundation school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Christchurch Grove, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5BT

01908 682222 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 4 March 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths32%England 45% · 2024/25
13th highest of 15 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 22% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,192Room for 1,275 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,190 in 2019, 1,218 in 2021, 1,214 in 2022, 1,223 in 2023, 1,246 in 2024, 1,210 in 2025, 1,192 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9174 for 199 places, September 2026
9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 35% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 4 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 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
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

166 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Milton Keynes comparisons use the 10 of its 17 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 schoolMilton KeynesEngland
My child is happy at this school
9th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 22% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71% 84% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
75% 87% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 27% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
66% 79% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 64 parents whose child had been bullied
9th highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 29% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
42% 54% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 138 parents who had raised a concern
9th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 26% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
59% 75% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 54 parents of children with SEND
6th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 18% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
44% 58% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 28% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
69%said yes 83% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Milton Keynes figures pool parents at the Milton Keynes 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.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

211 pupils in this year group.

32% — 12 points below the Milton Keynes average, and 13 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 32% 44% 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. 38.2 44.2 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.4 3.9 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 33%This school 2023/24: 36%This school 2024/25: 32% This school England 45% 2022/23 33% 2023/24 36% 2024/25 32%

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.

206 pupils in this year group.

90% — 3 points below the Milton Keynes average, and 2 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 47%36%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 90% 93% 92%
School sixth form 47% 50% 34%
Sixth form college 0% – 13%
Further education college 36% 36% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 2% 3%
Work 4% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%90%

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

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

75 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Average A level grade C C B-
A level exams graded A* or A 16% 17% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 37% 40% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 29.4 30.4 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 33.4This school 2023/24: 27.9This school 2024/25: 29.4 This school England 35 2022/23 33.4 2023/24 27.9 2024/25 29.4

A level subjects, 2024/25

21 subjects, 153 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 20 0% 0% 19%
Biology 16 6% 13% 27%
Sociology 13 0% 0% 20%
Film Studies 12 0% 33% 17%
Mathematics 12 8% 42% 40%
English Literature 11 0% 9% 23%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 10 0% 0% 14%
Computer Studies / Computing 8 0% 25% 24%
Art and Design 7 0% 14% 34%
Chemistry 7 0% 29% 30%
History 7 0% 29% 23%
Government and Politics 6 17% 17% 26%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: English Language and Literature, Geography, Mathematics (Further), Physics, Drama and Theatre Studies, German, Arabic, Economics, French.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

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

72 students in this year group.

83% — about the same as the Milton Keynes average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 83% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 8% 7% 7%
Work 33% 32% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%83%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

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

77 students in this year group.

64% — 4 points above the Milton Keynes average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 64% 60% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 19% 14% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
70%64%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 Milton Keynes. 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 offered199
Families who put it first174
Of those, offered a place174 (100%)
Families who listed it at all359

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.1 · 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 Milton Keynes

Pupils, staff and SEND

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 15 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolMilton KeynesEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
41.0% 26.6%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 53% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 2.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.6% 12.3%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.2% 25.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
13th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 28% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.7% 8.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
11th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 35% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
26.4% 22.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
11th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 26% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
28.3 22.0 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
12th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Lower than 28% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.8% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.17% 0.02% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 35% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.1 17.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
14th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.0 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Milton Keynes.
Higher than 66% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
16.4% 14.3%* 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.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Nearby secondary schools

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

Questions parents ask

What is The Radcliffe School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 4 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did The Radcliffe School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 32% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 13 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend The Radcliffe School?

69% of the 166 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Radcliffe School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Radcliffe School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 174 families put The Radcliffe School as their first choice for 199 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 174 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.