The Chase, Malvern

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades The Chase on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well at The Chase."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching, and they use this to make sound decisions about how to ensure that it is effective."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders work very well to ensure that the school is an inclusive place for all members of its community."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an appropriate understanding of the school's strengths and its areas for further development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school has a comprehensive personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) curriculum."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff are rightly proud of the school's sixth-form provision."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Overall, pupil attendance is broadly in line with national averages."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should accelerate their strategic approaches to rapidly improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils so that these pupils benefit from all that the school offers"; "Leaders should continue to develop teachers' expertise to use assessment to check and address misconceptions in pupils' or students' understanding in all subjects, including personal, social, health and economic education. This focus should also ensure that any adaptions to teaching are highly effective, especially for pupils or students who might have barriers to their learning".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We hope you get an insight in to what it means to be part of our special school community amidst the beautiful surroundings here in Malvern. I am delighted to introduce our school to you and our vision for the education of our students."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, coding, debating and Duke of Edinburgh.

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The Chase averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.4 in Worcestershire and 47 across England.

56% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Worcestershire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 51.9.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.08: 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 34.9, against 56.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 21.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 216 families put The Chase as their first choice and 318 named it as one of their preferences, for 231 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 The Chase are Dyson Perrins CofE Academy (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.5); and Hanley Castle High School (3.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.1).

The Chase's 2026 results were higher than all 2 of them.

The Chase is run by its own single-school academy trust.

190 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Chase (as of April 2026): 84% would recommend the school, 78% say their child is happy there and 52% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (52%).

Of the 214 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 25% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 132 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 28% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 45% into work. 29% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

5.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 250 pupils (17.3%) received SEN support and 40 (2.8%) 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.

The Chase has a resourced provision.

The nearest railway station is Great Malvern Rail Station, about 910 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chase High School (adjacent), 110 metres away.

In 2024/25, The Chase issued 159 suspensions, 11.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Chase are Malvern Parish CofE Primary School (0.5 miles), Great Malvern Primary School (0.6 miles), Malvern Wyche CofE Primary School (1.2 miles) and Beacon View Primary School (1.2 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.