Academy converter · Buckinghamshire

Sir William Ramsay School

11–18Ages
984Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
150611URN

Rose Avenue, High Wycombe, HP15 7UB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Category of concern: Serious weaknesses

Safeguarding not effective

Graded inspection · Jun 2022 Previous framework

Inadequate

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

0.8per place

2.3 below Buckinghamshire median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in BuckinghamshireSelective

171 applications for 207 places · 36th of 36 in Buckinghamshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

35.1of 90

Buckinghamshire 48.7 England 46.0

34th of 36 in Buckinghamshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Ofsted category of concern: Serious weaknesses

Safeguarding: not effective at the latest graded inspection

Overall effectiveness: Inadequate · 14 June 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes			Inadequate
Personal development		Requires improvement
Leadership and management			Inadequate
Sixth form provision	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 entry

0.8applications per place, Year 7

2.3 below Buckinghamshire median (3.1) 1.4 below England median (2.2)

171 applications · 207 places offered · 45 named it first

2026 0.8; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1
2025 0.9; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1
2024 0.8; Buckinghamshire median median 3.0
2023 1.2; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1; as the previous school
2022 1.9; Buckinghamshire median median 3.0; as the previous school
2021 2.0; Buckinghamshire median median 4.0; as the previous school
2020 2.3; Buckinghamshire median median 3.4; as the previous school
2019 2.5; Buckinghamshire median median 3.3; as the previous school
2018 2.7; Buckinghamshire median median 3.6; as the previous school
2017 2.8; Buckinghamshire median median 3.2; as the previous school
2016 3.3; Buckinghamshire median median 3.1; as the previous school
2015 3.6; Buckinghamshire median median 2.9; as the previous school
2014 4.2; Buckinghamshire median median 2.9; as the previous school

This school
Buckinghamshire median

Dashed bars: as Sir William Ramsay School (URN 137256), Sir William Ramsay School (URN 110506), the previous school.

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	207	171	0.8	45	0.22
Sep 2025	228	213	0.9	62	0.27
Sep 2024	253	196	0.8	33	0.13
Sep 2023 *	207	248	1.2	55	0.27
Sep 2022 *	204	393	1.9	117	0.57
Sep 2021 *	206	417	2.0	87	0.42
Sep 2020 *	205	464	2.3	103	0.50
Sep 2019 *	206	521	2.5	114	0.55
Sep 2018 *	199	527	2.7	129	0.65
Sep 2017 *	182	512	2.8	98	0.54
Sep 2016 *	185	614	3.3	153	0.83
Sep 2015 *	188	680	3.6	208	1.11
Sep 2014 *	153	646	4.2	162	1.06

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

187 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)35.134th of 36 in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire 48.7 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths23%35th of 36 in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire 50% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths39%

Buckinghamshire 72% England 66%

This school
Buckinghamshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2022/23, the latest published)−0.19

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	187	35.1	23%	39%	–
2024/25	186	35.4	26%	48%	–
2023/24					–
2022/23 *	188	39.2	26%	56%	−0.19

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

Sir William Ramsay SchoolThis school
This school

Serious weaknesses Inadequate2022

0.8applications per place 35.1Attainment 8
The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
2.1 km · Buckinghamshire

Improved significantly2025

3.9applications per place 71.9Attainment 8 Selective
Holmer Green Senior School
2.2 km · Buckinghamshire

2026

3.2applications per place 47.6Attainment 8
The Highcrest Academy
2.2 km · Buckinghamshire

Some aspects not as strong2024

2.7applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
St Michael's Catholic School
4.5 km · Buckinghamshire

2026

4.0applications per place 48.7Attainment 8
Wycombe High School
4.7 km · Buckinghamshire

Outstanding2024

3.8applications per place 74.2Attainment 8 Selective
John Hampden Grammar School
5.0 km · Buckinghamshire

Outstanding2022

4.7applications per place 73.1Attainment 8 Selective
The Misbourne School
5.7 km · Buckinghamshire

2026

3.5applications per place 51.9Attainment 8
Cressex Community School
6.3 km · Buckinghamshire

Remains Good2024

3.1applications per place 44.3Attainment 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: 150611 · 825/4017
Trust: Insignis Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,041 pupils · 984 on roll
Free school meals: 37.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 March 2024
Replaced: Sir William Ramsay School (URN 137256); Sir William Ramsay School (URN 110506)
Address: Rose Avenue, High Wycombe, HP15 7UB
Local authority: Buckinghamshire

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