John Colet School, Aylesbury
John Colet School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Aylesbury. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 5th-highest of the 10 schools in Aylesbury with published results, and 1,381st of 3,298 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Buckinghamshire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
John Colet School in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at John Colet School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 55 in Buckinghamshire and 47 across England.
49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 61% in Buckinghamshire and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 47.6.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.01: pupils made about 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 35.6, against 49.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.9 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.
Getting a place at John Colet School
For September 2026 entry, 169 families put John Colet School as their first choice and 447 named it as one of their preferences, for 174 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 29 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to John Colet School are The Grange School (3.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.7); The Mandeville School (3.9 miles, Attainment 8 38.7); Aylesbury High School (4.1 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 75.5); and Aylesbury Grammar School (4.2 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 74.2).
John Colet School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
The Grange SchoolThe Mandeville SchoolAylesbury High SchoolAylesbury Grammar School
What parents say
205 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about John Colet School (as of September 2025): 86% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 55% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (55%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 165 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 31% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.
Of the 77 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 39% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 34% into work. 22% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
15.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%), Asian (7%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 169 pupils (16.7%) received SEN support and 62 (6.1%) 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 Wendover Rail Station, about 770 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is John Colet School (adjacent), 80 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, John Colet School issued 139 suspensions, 13 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to John Colet School are Wendover Church of England Junior School (under 0.1 miles), The John Hampden School (under 0.1 miles) and Halton Community Combined School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Wendover Church of England Junior SchoolThe John Hampden SchoolHalton Community Combined 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); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Buckinghamshire published that the last place for 2021 entry went to a family 4.02 miles away (straight line). The cut-off moves every year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are happy here and are welcoming to visitors. The behaviour and relationships are very positive, both in lessons and in social time. The school has a family feel and its vision of 'every student thriving' underpins all its work. Its work with vulnerable pupils is extremely well coordinated and valued by pupils and parents alike. This contributes to the school's highly inclusive and supportive culture. Pupils enjoy the raft of extra-curricular and leadership opportunities on offer. These enable pupils to nurture their interests and develop character and confidence. For example, the Year 10 mentoring programme for Year 7 pupils, or the many roles taken on by sixth-form students.
The school's shared ambition for all pupils is reflected in their improving achievements in lessons and in public examinations. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Each subject has a very carefully sequenced curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13. Essential knowledge and skills build over time, but content is also placed in the context of the wider world. Lesson routines are consistent and support positive and purposeful learning environments.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The key stage 3 curriculum provides pupils with a sound foundation for study in Years 10 and 11. Pupils take a broad range of subjects at key stage 4. The choices are varied and relevant and most pupils take GCSEs. The numbers taking languages, and thus the full suite of English Baccalaureate subjects, is increasing. Care is also taken that there are then meaningful links to sixth form subjects or other education and training routes. Almost all pupils take the full curriculum alongside their peers. In a few cases some pupils follow more bespoke programmes. These are carefully organised with parents and other partners in the best interests of the individuals.
The delivery of the curriculum is effective in most areas. However, there are some inconsistencies, and the school has already taken effective steps to start to address these. The school now has much more stable subject teams who work collaboratively to refine their teaching approaches. Most teachers carefully select strategies and resources which help pupils to embed important knowledge and skills. They then provide opportunities for pupils to practise applying what they have learned to different tasks. Most teachers also regularly check pupils' understanding and adjust teaching and feedback accordingly.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2016 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
About
The John Colet School is a co-educational secondary school in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England. In August 2011 the school became an Academy.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
15.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
205 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 declined from 0.14 to 0.01 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 46.5 to 47.5 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 39% to 49% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 47.5 | 49.3% |
| Disadvantaged(29) | - | 35.6 | 24.1% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(174) | - | 49.5 | 53.4% |
| Boys(108) | - | 47.4 | 50% |
| Girls(95) | - | 47.6 | 48.4% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(19) | - | 58.8 | 78.9% |
| Non mobile(190) | - | 47.2 | 48.4% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 5 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 165 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
1
Permanent exclusions
0.09%
Exclusion rate
139
Suspensions
13.03%
Suspension rate
72 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,067 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with John Colet School
Term dates
John Colet School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Buckinghamshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to John Colet School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. John Colet School is in Buckinghamshire; for families living there:
- Buckinghamshire's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy (0 to 25 Year Olds)
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
3 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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 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 John Colet School
Will you get a place at John Colet School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against John Colet School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for John Colet School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to John Colet School.
- Last distance offered for 2021 entry, from Buckinghamshire's own figures, and how your distance compares each year.
- Applications, first choices and offers at John Colet School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Buckinghamshire 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
95%
Near capacity
1,060 pupils
1,114 places
54 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Aylesbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Aylesbury
Across Buckinghamshire council
Places available
6,847
Applications
6,535
Got 1st preference
76.7%
Got preferred school
93.9%
All secondary applications across Buckinghamshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
169
SEN Support
62
EHC Plans
22.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,014
Total Pupils
534
Boys
480
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
66
Teachers
15.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£58,055
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,835
Per pupil
£6862k
Total funding
£159k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.8%
Overall absence
21.0%
Persistent absence
987
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 John Colet School
What are GCSE results like at John Colet School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at John Colet School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 47.5. 49% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is John Colet School's Ofsted rating?
John Colet School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2016, it was rated Good.
How close to John Colet School do you need to live?
Buckinghamshire published for September 2021 entry that the last place offered at John Colet School on distance went to a family 4.02 miles away. This is the authority's own figure for one year, not a fixed boundary - the cut-off moves with the number of applications, so treat it as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Is it hard to get a place at John Colet School?
John Colet School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at John Colet School?
Classes at John Colet School average 21.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to John Colet School?
John Colet School has around 1014 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at John Colet School?
8.8% of sessions were missed at John Colet School in 2024/25. 21% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to John Colet School?
Apply through Buckinghamshire's coordinated admissions process, naming John Colet 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 John Colet School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 3 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 Buckinghamshire is 4 (the median across 274 schools, same distance and years).
Where is John Colet School?
John Colet School is at Wharf Road, Wendover, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP22 6HF.
Sources: Buckinghamshire admissions booklet; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)