Best Secondary Schools in Gloucestershire 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 41 schools across Gloucestershire. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Gloucestershire has 41 open secondary schools. Of the 41 with a published Ofsted inspection, 9 (22%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 90% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Pate's Grammar School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Gloucestershire follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

41
Total schools
9
Outstanding (historic grade)
22%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
61.8%
Avg KS2 SATs
44.2
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Pate's Grammar School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 The Crypt School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥉 Stroud High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
4. The High School Leckhampton
Secondary
 Outstanding 95 View school
5. Sir Thomas Rich's School
Secondary
 Good 90 View school
6. Denmark Road High School
Secondary
 Good 90 View school
7. Ribston Hall High School
Secondary
 Good 87 View school
8. Barnwood Park School
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
9. Marling School
Secondary
 Outstanding 75 View school
10. Katharine Lady Berkeley's School
Secondary
 Good 69 View school
11. Cirencester Deer Park School
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
12. Five Acres High School
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
13. Churchdown School
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
14. Farmor's School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
15. Henley Bank High School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
16. Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
17. Thomas Keble School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
18. Pittville School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
19. Balcarras School
Secondary
 Outstanding 61 View school
20. Wyedean School and Sixth Form Centre
Secondary
 Good 60 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Gloucestershire

Best primary schools in GloucestershireTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in GloucestershireTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in GloucestershirePrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in GloucestershireReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in South GloucestershireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SwindonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in MonmouthshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Herefordshire, County ofCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Gloucestershire

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Gloucestershire?
There are 41 open secondary schools in Gloucestershire (closed schools are excluded). 9 of the 41 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Gloucestershire?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Gloucestershire is Pate's Grammar School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Gloucestershire?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Gloucestershire?
Primary and secondary applications in Gloucestershire are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Gloucestershire council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.