What is Balcarras School's Ofsted rating?

Balcarras School received a Outstanding rating from Ofsted following its 2025 inspection.

What do parents say about Balcarras School?

Ofsted Parent View (Sept 2025, 353 responses): 97% of parents would recommend Balcarras School.

What are Balcarras School's latest exam results?

Balcarras School: GCSE 2024/25: Attainment 8 58.4. Check the source and academic year shown with each result.

Where is Balcarras School located?

Balcarras School is a secondary school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (GL53 8QF).

How many pupils attend Balcarras School?

Balcarras School has around 1,429 pupils on roll according to the latest school census data.

How can I compare Balcarras School with other schools?

View Balcarras School's full profile on FavSchools for available results and school details, then use the comparison tool or interactive map to explore nearby alternatives in Gloucestershire.

SecondaryData as of May 2026

Balcarras School

East End Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL53 8QF

Academy converter · Ages 11–18 · Non-selective · Mixed

Ofsted

Outstanding

Mar 2025

Historical inspection outcome; read the latest report for the full findings.

Academic picture

58.4school · 46.0 national reference

Attainment 8 · 2024/25. Average GCSE points across eight subjects, not a percentage.

Why is Progress 8 unavailable?

Progress 8 is unavailable nationally for this year because the cohort's KS2 baseline tests were cancelled. This is not a negative judgement on the school.

Explore results and trends

Before you apply

Confirm entry-year admission rules, places and selection requirements with the school or local authority.

Exam Results

Official performance data from the Department for Education

GCSE Results (Secondary)

Key performance measures— 2024/25

Attainment 8

58.4

Progress 8?

N/A

9-7 Grades

37.5%

Basics 9-5

66.5%

Exam attainment

Attainment 8 · GCSE points across eight subjects, not a percentage or a measure of progress.

School · 2024/25

58.4

National · same year

46.0

SchoolNational reference

View data by year

Attainment 8 values by academic year
Year	School	National
2022/23	60.2	46.4
2023/24	62.4	46.4
2024/25	58.4	46.0

Learning progress

Progress 8 · Progress compared with pupils who had similar prior attainment. Zero is the national progress baseline.

School · 2024/25

Not available

National · same year

Not available

SchoolNational reference

View data by year

Progress 8 values by academic year
Year	School	National
2022/23	+0.70	0.00
2023/24	+0.83	0.00
2024/25	Not available	Not available

Progress 8 is unavailable for 2024/25 because the cohort's KS2 baseline tests were cancelled nationally. Missing values are not zero.

Grades at or above each threshold

These percentages overlap: grades 9–7 are also included in 9–5 and 9–4. Do not add the lines together.

9–7% / 9–5% / 9–4% available from 2023/24; no grade breakdown for 2022/23

EBacc Measures

EBacc Entry

47.9%

EBacc APS

5.16

EBacc 9-5

29.9%

EBacc 9-4

38.1%

How to read Progress 8 vs Attainment 8Two numbers, two different stories. The 6-min explainer for parents.

A-Level Results (Post-16)

Key A-Level performance measures— 2024/25

APS per Entry

40.28

A*-A Grades

36.1%

A*-B Grades

69.5%

AAB+ %

21.1%

APS per Entry

National avgSelective avg

Grade Distribution (%)

A*-A% / A*-B% available from 2023/24; no grade breakdown for 2022/23

Based on 219 students entered

Community & Reviews

What parents say and who teaches here

Location & Area

Explore the neighbourhood around the school

Data shown for guidance only · confirm details with the school before applying

Nearby secondary schools

Closest alternatives within 15 km.

St Edward's School

1.21 km away · Other independent school

Cheltenham College

2.49 km away · Other independent school

Cheltenham Ladies' College

3.06 km away · Other independent school

Gloucestershire Hospital Education Service

3.34 km away · Pupil referral unit

Outstanding

Pittville School

3.62 km away · Foundation school

Good

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