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Balcarras School
East End Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 8QF, Gloucestershire
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
95.9 / 100
Top 4%
Better than 96% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Outstanding
Pupils
1,429
Capacity
1,359
Ages
11–18
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
105%
Summary
With an Outstanding rating from Ofsted and a LocaleIQ score in the top 4% of schools, this secondary institution demonstrates exceptional academic performance, boasting a GCSE Attainment 8 score of 58.5 and 84% of students achieving grade 4 or above in English and Maths. Parent satisfaction is notably high, with 97% recommending the school, and a strong percentage of students progressing to university, including 39% to top-third institutions.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 4 March 2025Quality Of Education: OutstandingPersonal Development: OutstandingBehaviour & Attitudes: OutstandingLeadership & Management: Outstanding
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 58.5 | Top 9% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 84% | Top 11% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 67% | Top 11% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 48% | Top 21% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 39% | Top 21% UK |
University Destinations
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Progression to university% of sixth-form leavers who went on to study a degree at a UK university. Includes all universities. National average ~55%. | 83% | Top 20% |
| Top-third universities% of leavers who went to a top-third university (Russell Group and equivalents — the most academically selective institutions). National average ~18%. | 39% | Top 20% |
Based on 188 leavers (DfE Destinations data, latest available year).
Parent View (353 responses)
★★★★★4.3
Good range of extra-curricular
98%
Good range of subjects
98%
My child feels safe
98%
School has high expectations
98%
My child is happy
97%
I'd recommend this school
97%
Progress is communicated
96%
My child makes good progress
96%
Behaviour is good
95%
School keeps me informed
94%
School supports development
93%
School responds to concerns
57%
Pupil Ethnicity
White British80.3%
White Other4.6%
Mixed Other2.8%
Mixed W+Asian2.0%
Asian Chinese2.0%
Asian Indian1.0%
Asian Other0.7%
Mixed W+B African0.6%
White Irish0.6%
Other0.6%
Black African0.5%
Asian Pakistani0.3%
Mixed W+B Carib.0.2%
Asian Bangladeshi0.2%
Black Other0.1%
Black Caribbean0.1%
traveller_irish0.1%
Location
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51.88134, -2.04420 · GL53 8QF
School details
Local authorityGloucestershire
RegionSouth West
URN136474
School typeAcademy converter
Websitewww.balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk/
Frequently asked questions
What is Balcarras School rated by Ofsted?
Balcarras School was rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 4 March 2025.
Is Balcarras School a good school?
Balcarras School scores 95.9/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the top 4% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
What do parents say about Balcarras School?
Based on 353 Ofsted Parent View responses, Balcarras School receives a satisfaction score of 87% across all parent survey questions.
How do pupils perform at Balcarras School in GCSEs?
Balcarras School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 58.5. 84% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near GL53 8QF?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near GL53 8QF with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.