This schoolOther secondary schools in BuckinghamshireSelective
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026Inspection history
- 11 December 2024Ungraded inspection: Some aspects not as strong
- 16 March 2016Graded inspection: Good
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 entry463 applications · 172 places offered · 187 named it first
- 2026 2.7; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1
- 2025 2.7; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1
- 2024 2.9; Buckinghamshire median median 3.0
- 2023 2.7; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1
- 2022 2.5; Buckinghamshire median median 3.0
- 2021 2.3; Buckinghamshire median median 4.0
- 2020 2.3; Buckinghamshire median median 3.4
- 2019 2.2; Buckinghamshire median median 3.3
- 2018 2.2; Buckinghamshire median median 3.6
- 2017 2.6; Buckinghamshire median median 3.2
- 2016 2.1; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1
- 2015 2.7; Buckinghamshire median median 2.9
- 2014 3.2; Buckinghamshire median median 2.9
- This school
- Buckinghamshire 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 | 172 | 463 | 2.7 | 187 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2025 | 169 | 458 | 2.7 | 194 | 1.15 |
| Sep 2024 | 168 | 493 | 2.9 | 221 | 1.32 |
| Sep 2023 | 173 | 464 | 2.7 | 201 | 1.16 |
| Sep 2022 | 168 | 411 | 2.5 | 183 | 1.09 |
| Sep 2021 | 177 | 412 | 2.3 | 125 | 0.71 |
| Sep 2020 | 178 | 404 | 2.3 | 164 | 0.92 |
| Sep 2019 | 175 | 386 | 2.2 | 157 | 0.90 |
| Sep 2018 | 187 | 411 | 2.2 | 152 | 0.81 |
| Sep 2017 | 149 | 389 | 2.6 | 149 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2016 | 176 | 376 | 2.1 | 138 | 0.78 |
| Sep 2015 | 153 | 410 | 2.7 | 153 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2014 | 143 | 458 | 3.2 | 184 | 1.29 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 174 | 42.0 | 43% | 68% | – |
| 2024/25 | 176 | 38.5 | 28% | 53% | – |
| 2023/24 | 182 | 39.9 | 39% | 54% | −0.39 |
| 2022/23 | 175 | 37.3 | 28% | 53% | −0.31 |
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
- The Highcrest AcademyThis schoolThis schoolSome aspects not as strong20242.7applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
- 1.6 km · BuckinghamshireImproved significantly20253.9applications per place 71.9Attainment 8 Selective
- 2.2 km · BuckinghamshireSerious weaknesses Inadequate20220.8applications per place 35.1Attainment 8
- 2.4 km · Buckinghamshire20264.0applications per place 48.7Attainment 8
- 2.8 km · BuckinghamshireOutstanding20243.8applications per place 74.2Attainment 8 Selective
- 3.0 km · BuckinghamshireOutstanding20224.7applications per place 73.1Attainment 8 Selective
- 4.4 km · BuckinghamshireRemains Good20243.1applications per place 44.3Attainment 8
- 4.5 km · Buckinghamshire20263.2applications per place 47.6Attainment 8
- 5.6 km · BuckinghamshireGood20221.6applications per place 33.9Attainment 8
- Exceptional
- Strong standard
- Expected standard
- Needs attention
- Urgent improvement
- Does not apply
Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.
School details
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 136858 · 825/4001
- Trust
- The Highcrest Academy
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,069 pupils · 1,045 on roll
- Free school meals
- 36.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 July 2011
- Replaced
- Highcrest Community School (URN 133514); The Hatters Lane School (URN 110486)
- Address
- Hatters Lane, High Wycombe, HP13 7NQ
- Local authority
- Buckinghamshire
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources