Academy converter · Gloucestershire

Balcarras School

11–18Ages
1,427Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
136474URN

East End Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL53 8QF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.3per place

2.1 above Gloucestershire median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in GloucestershireSelective

776 applications for 181 places · 3rd of 39 in Gloucestershire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

62.1of 90

Gloucestershire 47.3 England 46.0

8th of 41 in Gloucestershire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 4 March 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Sixth form provision	Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

4.3applications per place, Year 7

2.1 above Gloucestershire median (2.1) 2.1 above England median (2.2)

776 applications · 181 places offered · 239 named it first

2026 4.3; Gloucestershire median median 2.1
2025 4.0; Gloucestershire median median 2.2
2024 3.4; Gloucestershire median median 2.2
2023 3.4; Gloucestershire median median 2.1
2022 3.4; Gloucestershire median median 2.0
2021 3.1; Gloucestershire median median 2.0
2020 3.4; Gloucestershire median median 1.9
2019 3.1; Gloucestershire median median 1.9
2018 3.3; Gloucestershire median median 1.9
2017 2.9; Gloucestershire median median 1.9
2016 3.5; Gloucestershire median median 2.1
2015 3.6; Gloucestershire median median 2.0
2014 3.2; Gloucestershire median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Gloucestershire median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Gloucestershire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	181	776	4.3	239	1.32
Sep 2025	185	734	4.0	255	1.38
Sep 2024	190	654	3.4	231	1.22
Sep 2023	184	631	3.4	243	1.32
Sep 2022	188	632	3.4	240	1.28
Sep 2021	194	598	3.1	202	1.04
Sep 2020	187	628	3.4	263	1.41
Sep 2019	218	667	3.1	279	1.28
Sep 2018	190	622	3.3	269	1.42
Sep 2017	219	644	2.9	271	1.24
Sep 2016	189	656	3.5	261	1.38
Sep 2015	188	684	3.6	290	1.54
Sep 2014	215	693	3.2	275	1.28

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

194 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)62.18th of 41 in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire 47.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths80%8th of 41 in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire 48% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths92%

Gloucestershire 67% England 66%

This school
Gloucestershire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.83

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	194	62.1	80%	92%	–
2024/25	194	58.5	67%	84%	–
2023/24	217	62.4	80%	89%	+0.83
2022/23	194	60.2	78%	88%	+0.70

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Balcarras SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

4.3applications per place 62.1Attainment 8
The High School Leckhampton
3.4 km · Gloucestershire

Outstanding2024

5.2applications per place 59.7Attainment 8
Pittville School
3.6 km · Gloucestershire

Standards maintained2025

2.8applications per place 44.2Attainment 8
Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre
3.9 km · Gloucestershire

Good2022

2.8applications per place 49.6Attainment 8
Pate's Grammar School
5.7 km · Gloucestershire

Outstanding2024

2.1applications per place 82.4Attainment 8 Selective
All Saints' Academy, Cheltenham
5.8 km · Gloucestershire

Some aspects not as strong2024

1.1applications per place 37.7Attainment 8
Cleeve School
6.7 km · Gloucestershire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 49.4Attainment 8
Chosen Hill School
8.0 km · Gloucestershire

Graded · no overall grade2024

4.2applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Henley Bank High School
8.1 km · Gloucestershire

Good2022

2.8applications per place 48.9Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 136474 · 916/5408
Trust: The Balcarras Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,359 pupils · 1,427 on roll
Free school meals: 6.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 February 2011
Replaced: Balcarras School (URN 115759)
Address: East End Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL53 8QF
Local authority: Gloucestershire · Cheltenham

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources