Garth Hill College, Bracknell

In its own words: "The pursuit of excellence is our purpose. As an ambitious and aspirational comprehensive school, we support every child, irrespective of background or circumstance, to achieve their very best. A wide and diverse range of rich opportunities inspire and promote the development of the whole person."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are proud to be a modern, successful secondary school providing a first class education in the heart of Bracknell . The college serves the community of North Bracknell and surrounding areas for pupils aged 11-19."

In 2026, pupils at Garth Hill College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.1 in Bracknell Forest and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 49% in Bracknell Forest and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.2 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.21: 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 31.5, against 44.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Social Studies and Design and Technology.

For September 2026 entry, 179 families put Garth Hill College as their first choice and 400 named it as one of their preferences, for 243 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Garth Hill College are Ranelagh School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56.7); The Brakenhale School (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.9); King's Academy Binfield (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.2); and King's Academy Easthampstead Park (2.1 miles, Attainment 8 41.5).

Garth Hill College's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

150 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Garth Hill College (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 70% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (70%).

Of the 240 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 92 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 47% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 16% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 136 pupils (9.4%) received SEN support and 115 (7.9%) 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 autism.

Garth Hill College has a SEN unit for autism: 56 places, 52 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Bracknell Rail Station, about 800 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sandy Lane (opposite), 220 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 300 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bracknell Forest (84), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Garth Hill College issued 510 suspensions, 34.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Garth Hill College are Sandy Lane Primary School (0.2 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bracknell (0.5 miles); Holly Spring Primary School (0.7 miles); and Warfield Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.