Getting a Year 7 place in 2026
1.20 miles
Last year, children living within 1.20 miles of The High School Leckhampton were offered a Year 7 place on distance, and only children inside the catchment area got places.
164places
237families put it first
67%of those got in
Year by year since 2022
It moves a lot from year to year, so don't rely on one year alone.
More about how places were given
164 Year 7 places for September 2026. 237 families put it first, about 1.4 for each place.
The furthest distance offered a place in 2026 was 1.20 miles. Only children inside the catchment area were offered places.
Looked-after children, EHC plans, siblings, catchment areas and faith can come before distance, and distances change every year. Read the admissions policy before you apply.
Last distance offered, September 2026 Year 7 entry, Gloucestershire County Council. Earlier years: allocation-day tables, Gloucestershire County Council. What this means
Secondary offer day (allocation day): 1 March 2027. Key dates
In short.
Worth knowing
- The distance that got a place has moved between 0.54 and 1.36 miles since 2022.
- It gives priority to children living in its catchment area.
- GCSE results are in the top 10% of Gloucestershire secondaries.
- Pupils miss fewer lessons than at 9 in 10 Gloucestershire secondaries.
Average GCSE grade
6.0
▲ Higher than typical (4.5)
English: average grade
6.3
▲ Higher than typical (4.8)
Maths: average grade
5.5
▲ Higher than typical (4.5)
English and maths grade 4+
86%
▲ Higher than typical (65%)
English and maths grade 5+
66%
▲ Higher than typical (42%)
Ofsted
Outstanding
Full inspection, 2024
Lessons missed
5.5%
▼ Lower than typical (8.4%)
Pupils per teacher
17.6
▲ Higher than typical (16.6)
Typical is the middle school when all 34 Gloucestershire secondaries that are not grammar schools are lined up, half above and half below. Tap a box for the detail. GCSE grades run from 9 (highest) to 1; a 4 is a standard pass, roughly the old C.
How places are given.
This school sets its own admission rules. After children whose EHC plan names the school, if more families apply than there are places, its policy gives places in this order:
- Children in care, or who were in care
- Brothers and sisters of pupils at the school
- Children of staff filling a hard-to-fill post
- Children living in the area of priority, nearest first
- Everyone else, nearest first (straight-line distance)
Our short summary of the school's 2027 policy, checked 7 November 2026. The policy has the full definitions, such as who counts as a brother or sister and how distance is measured.
It gives priority to children living in its catchment area. The area is shown on a map in the school's policy, which we can't redraw accurately, so check the map in the policy or ask the school.
Read the school's admission rules for September 2027 (PDF)
Free school transport. If this is your nearest suitable school and the walking route is more than 2 miles (children under 8) or 3 miles (8 and over), the council usually provides free transport. Families on lower incomes can get help over shorter distances. School transport
GCSE results.
+0.9
grades higher in each subject, on average, than at schools in England with similar pupils. Similar pupils means a similar share from lower-income families (12% here).
Results subject by subject
Average grade (9 is highest) and how many entries got a standard pass (grade 4+) or a top grade (7+), for subjects with 10 or more entries. "County" is the average for all Gloucestershire non-grammar schools.
| Subject | Entries | Average grade | Grade 4+ | Grade 7+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Science | 118 | 5.8county 4.4 | 91% | 38% |
| English Language | 118 | 6.0county 4.7 | 92% | 36% |
| Mathematics | 118 | 5.5county 4.7 | 87% | 31% |
| English Literature | 117 | 6.0county 4.7 | 92% | 43% |
| Geography | 78 | 6.0county 4.7 | 86% | 47% |
| Business Studies | 61 | 5.5county 4.7 | 82% | 36% |
| Spanish | 57 | 5.7county 5.2 | 91% | 30% |
| Art and Design | 40 | 6.5county 5.0 | 95% | 53% |
| Physical Education | 40 | 5.7county 5.0 | 83% | 35% |
| History | 37 | 5.7county 4.7 | 84% | 38% |
| French | 30 | 5.3county 5.3 | 87% | 17% |
| Design and Technology | 25 | 5.5county 4.9 | 84% | 36% |
| Computer Science | 24 | 5.5county 4.3 | 75% | 42% |
| Religious Studies | 19 | 7.4county 5.1 | 100% | 79% |
| Drama | 14 | 6.2county 5.0 | 100% | 50% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 14 | 5.7county 4.7 | 79% | 29% |
| Music | 12 | 7.2county 5.1 | 100% | 67% |
GCSE results 2025/26 (provisional), subject results. Small subjects can swing a lot from year to year.
Where it ranks in Gloucestershire
Positions are among Gloucestershire secondary schools that are not grammar schools with a published figure. 1st means the highest results. Typical is the school in the middle when they are lined up from highest to lowest. Jargon buster.
GCSE results 2025/26 (provisional).
Ofsted.
Ofsted
Outstanding
Full inspection, 2024
“Pupils are exceptionally proud to attend The High School Leckhampton. The behaviour and attitudes of pupils are exemplary. As a ‘Rights Respecting School’, pupils understand how their behaviour has an impact on others. This means that the school community has the mutual respect for others at its heart. […]”
Read the full report (PDF) · Ofsted, Open Government Licence.
What parents told Ofsted.
Not enough parents filled in Ofsted's Parent View survey for this school to publish results. Ofsted only publishes a school's results once 10 or more parents have answered (November 2025 to September 2026).
See this school on Ofsted Parent View, or add your own views if your child goes there.
Day to day.
Pupils
Attendance and behaviour
Teachers and money
Behaviour policies differ between schools, so compare suspensions with care. Pupils and staff: school census and workforce census, Department for Education.
Questions parents ask.
How close do you need to live to get a place at The High School Leckhampton?
Last year, children living within 1.20 miles of The High School Leckhampton were offered a Year 7 place on distance, and only children inside the catchment area got places. Year by year since 2022: 2022: 0.96 miles; 2023: 1.36 miles; 2024: 0.54 miles; 2025: 0.78 miles; 2026: only children in the catchment area got in. It moves a lot from year to year, so don't rely on one year alone. Distances change every year, and children in priority groups (such as looked-after children, children with an EHC plan naming the school and brothers or sisters of current pupils) can get places before distance is used.
How many families applied to The High School Leckhampton?
For September 2026 Year 7 entry, 237 families put The High School Leckhampton as their first choice, and 164 places were offered. (Department for Education, secondary applications and offers 2026)
What are The High School Leckhampton's GCSE results?
In 2026, pupils at The High School Leckhampton got an average Attainment 8 score of 59.7, and 86% got grade 4 or above in both English and maths. (Department for Education, provisional GCSE results 2025/26)
What did Ofsted say about The High School Leckhampton?
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its last full inspection (20 February 2024).
How do I apply for a place at The High School Leckhampton?
You apply to your home council, not to the school. If you live in Gloucestershire, that is Gloucestershire County Council. For September 2027 entry, on-time applications closed at midnight, 31 October 2026, and offers are sent on 1 March 2027. Late applications are dealt with after on-time ones.
Contact and nearby.
Farm Lane, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL51 3FS
Head teacher: Mrs Helen Wood
Run by an academy trust: The Balcarras Trust
Nearby secondary schools
Spotted something wrong on this page? Tell us
This is a guide, not an admissions decision. Figures come from the Department for Education, Ofsted and Gloucestershire County Council and were last updated 7 November 2026. Always check the school's admissions policy and the council's admissions pages before applying. How admissions work