Chosen Hill School, Gloucester
Chosen Hill School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Gloucester. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 8th-highest of the 12 schools in Gloucester with published results, and 1,815th of 3,298 across England. It was 87% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Gloucestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Chosen Hill School in detail
Chosen Hill School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Chosen Hill School opened in 1959 and became an Academy Trust in 2011. There are close to 1400 students in the school including a popular and expanding Sixth Form. As an International Award School we welcome students from many parts of the world on study visits and exchange programmes."
On phones, the school says: "Mobile Phone Information From September 2026 we will be moving to a completely phone-free school day."
Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 13 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Gloucestershire
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Chosen Hill School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 51.2 in Gloucestershire and 47 across England.
41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Gloucestershire and 47% in England.
That is down from 48.6 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.13: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 36.1, against 48.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.1 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.
Getting a place at Chosen Hill School
For September 2026 entry, 211 families put Chosen Hill School as their first choice and 878 named it as one of their preferences, for 209 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 35 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Chosen Hill School are Churchdown School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 53.3); Sir Thomas Rich's School (2 miles, Good, selective, Attainment 8 75.2); Henley Bank High School (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.9); and Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre (2.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.6).
Each of them had higher 2026 results than Chosen Hill School.
Churchdown SchoolSir Thomas Rich's SchoolHenley Bank High SchoolCheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre
What parents say
177 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Chosen Hill School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 93% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 220 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.
Of the 100 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 33% went on to university or other higher education, 13% to apprenticeships and 40% into work. 3% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
9.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 113 pupils (8.7%) received SEN support and 64 (4.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cheltenham Spa Rail Station, about 2.9 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chosen Hill School (outside), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Chosen Hill School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Chosen Hill School issued 222 suspensions, 17.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Chosen Hill School are Churchdown Village Infant School (0.4 miles), Churchdown Village Junior School (0.5 miles), Churchdown Parton Manor Junior School (0.9 miles) and Churchdown Parton Manor Infant School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Churchdown Village Infant SchoolChurchdown Village Junior SchoolChurchdown Parton Manor Junior SchoolChurchdown Parton Manor Infant School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from April 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Chosen Hill School excels at creating a welcoming environment where pupils feel supported and understood, with staff who build trusting relationships with students. The school has thoughtfully designed its curriculum so pupils build knowledge step-by-step across all subjects, and provides excellent guidance to help pupils understand their next steps after leaving school. The sixth form in particular has made impressive improvements, with students now showing strong commitment to their learning and taking active roles in supporting younger pupils.
Key Strengths
- Well-planned curriculum where staff have identified key knowledge in each subject and how pupils learn best, helping them build understanding over time
- Strong support for pupils with SEND and effective work to improve attendance and reintegration
- Excellent careers information and guidance for all pupils
- Sixth form students show highly positive attitudes and produce high-quality written work
- School is calm and orderly with consistent application of behavior policies
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not always check that all pupils have understood before moving on, meaning some pupils lack secure understanding and cannot apply learning in new contexts
- Oversight and analysis of some school provision is not sufficiently robust, preventing leaders from clearly understanding the impact of their work
- Reading for pleasure initiatives with tutors are not consistently effective
- More work needed to ensure all pupils are well-prepared for life in modern Britain
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School magazine, Duke of Edinburgh Award, house music event, sports clubs and competitions, workshops on consent and online safety
Chosen Hill School provides a welcoming and ambitious environment with high expectations for pupils from Year 7 through the sixth form. The school balances academic rigor with a nurturing approach, helping the majority of pupils see the value in their learning and maintain positive attitudes towards school.
About
Chosen Hill School is a co-educational academy school in the village of Churchdown in Gloucestershire, England, between Cheltenham and Gloucester. It is also a Beacon School.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
17.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
177 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has remained stable at around -0.13 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 46.3 to 45.1 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 41% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 45.1 | 40.7% |
| Disadvantaged(52) | - | 36.1 | 23.1% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(152) | - | 48.2 | 46.7% |
| Boys(103) | - | 45.6 | 44.7% |
| Girls(101) | - | 44.6 | 36.6% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(21) | - | 55.9 | 57.1% |
| Non mobile(198) | - | 45.6 | 41.9% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 6 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 220 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
3
Permanent exclusions
0.23%
Exclusion rate
222
Suspensions
17.18%
Suspension rate
101 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,292 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Chosen Hill School
Term dates
Chosen Hill School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Gloucestershire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Chosen Hill School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Chosen Hill School is in Gloucestershire; for families living there:
Apply to Gloucestershire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Chosen Hill School
Will you get a place at Chosen Hill School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Chosen Hill School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Chosen Hill School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Chosen Hill School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Gloucestershire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Chosen Hill School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Gloucestershire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
87%
Available places
1,292 pupils
1,490 places
198 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Gloucester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gloucester
Across Gloucestershire council
Places available
7,977
Applications
6,517
Got 1st preference
86.8%
Got preferred school
97.0%
All secondary applications across Gloucestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
113
SEN Support
64
EHC Plans
13.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,295
Total Pupils
690
Boys
605
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
84
Teachers
15.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,439
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,844
Per pupil
£7955k
Total funding
£211k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.0%
Overall absence
22.7%
Persistent absence
1,143
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Chosen Hill School
What are GCSE results like at Chosen Hill School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Chosen Hill School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 45.1. 41% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Chosen Hill School's Ofsted rating?
Chosen Hill School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Chosen Hill School?
No fixed boundary. When Chosen Hill School is oversubscribed, Gloucestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Chosen Hill School?
Chosen Hill School was not full in 2025: it ran at 87% of its 1490 places.
How big are the classes at Chosen Hill School?
Classes at Chosen Hill School average 21 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Chosen Hill School?
Chosen Hill School has around 1295 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Chosen Hill School?
8% of sessions were missed at Chosen Hill School in 2024/25. 22.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Chosen Hill School?
Apply through Gloucestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Chosen Hill School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Chosen Hill School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Gloucestershire is 5 (the median across 338 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Chosen Hill School?
Chosen Hill School is at Brookfield Road, Churchdown, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL3 2PL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)