SGS Forest High School, Cinderford

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades SGS Forest High School on 6 areas: 1 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an effective personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Most pupils' performance in examinations is below the national average."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders' actions to improve behaviour have not had enough impact on some pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The quality of teaching that pupils receive is too variable."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "A significant number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) attend the school."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "School and trust leaders generally have an accurate picture of the school's strengths and areas for development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that they consistently identify and implement effective strategies which enable pupils with barriers to learning and/or wellbeing to achieve and thrive"; "Leaders should ensure that teaching consistently identifies and remedies gaps in pupils' knowledge and skills, including foundational knowledge"; "Leaders should raise pupils' achievement, so that pupils are better prepared for their next steps"; "Leaders should ensure that they provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and/or who are disadvantaged, who need help to improve their behaviour"; "Leaders should ensure that they embed the necessary improvements quickly and effectively".

In 2026, pupils at SGS Forest High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 32.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 51.2 in Gloucestershire and 47 across England.

18% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Gloucestershire and 47% in England.

That is down from 35.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.78: pupils made well 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 33.5, against 32.6 for other pupils at the school.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 18 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Social Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 30 families put SGS Forest High School as their first choice and 55 named it as one of their preferences, for 35 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

SGS Forest High School is one of 3 schools run by South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 48 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 65% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 65% to a further education college, 15% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

36.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 65 pupils (25.5%) received SEN support and 15 (5.9%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

SGS Forest High School had 20 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of SGS Forest High School.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Edge Hills Road (before), 70 metres away.

In 2024/25, SGS Forest High School issued 284 suspensions, 110.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to SGS Forest High School are Forest View Primary School (0.2 miles), Littledean Church of England Primary School (1 mile), St White's Primary School (1.1 miles) and Steam Mills Primary School (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.