Cleeve School Review 2026: Outstanding Sixth Form and Personal Development

Cleeve School sits on the edge of Bishops Cleeve and serves as a focal point for the expanding community north of Cheltenham. This is a large, mixed comprehensive academy that feels more like a modern campus than a traditional village school. With over 1,500 students, it operates on a scale that allows for significant investment in facilities, most notably the £5 million Centre of Excellence for the Sixth Form.

The school's motto, Aspiring, Collaborating, Transforming (A.C.T.), is not just signage; it underpins a culture that Ofsted recently praised as having "Outstanding" personal development. The January 2025 inspection confirmed the school's "Good" overall status but highlighted the Sixth Form and the wider personal development of students as standout areas. It is a popular choice, consistently receiving more applications than places available, driven by a reputation for balancing academic push with genuine care for student character.

Arriving at Two Hedges Road, the first impression is of scale and energy. The site blends functional mid-century blocks with striking modern additions. The Sixth Form Centre of Excellence, opened in 2018, dominates the frontage and sets a clear aspirational tone; it looks and feels like a university faculty rather than a school block. This physical separation of the oldest students creates a "destination" for younger pupils to aim for.

Mr Alwyn Richards has been Principal since 2011. His long tenure has provided crucial stability during a period of rapid local housing growth and the school's conversion to academy status. Parents describe him as a visible leader who has successfully managed the transition from a village comprehensive to a large, modern academy without losing the community feel. The "Cleeve Code" of conduct provides the framework for behaviour, which inspectors describe as calm and orderly.

Despite its size, the school avoids feeling impersonal through a robust House system. Students are allocated to Attenborough, Holmes, Nightingale, Rowling, or Shackleton House. This structure breaks the large cohort down into manageable tribes, fostering healthy competition in everything from sports to charity fundraising. The atmosphere is purposeful but inclusive; you are as likely to see students discussing an apprenticeship at a local aerospace firm as you are to hear them debating university choices.

In 2024, Cleeve School delivered a solid set of GCSE results that reflect its inclusive, comprehensive intake. The school ranks 1,655th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 36% of schools nationally. Performance sits in the "national typical" band, in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

The Progress 8 score of +0.22 is a significant metric for parents. It indicates that students here achieve, on average, nearly a quarter of a grade higher in every subject than students of similar ability nationally. This positive value-added score demonstrates effective teaching across the ability range, not just for the most able. The Average Attainment 8 score stood at 50.6, while the average EBacc point score was 4.33.

At Sixth Form, the January 2025 Ofsted report rated provision as "Outstanding", praising the expert subject knowledge and high expectations found in post-16 classes. While the 2024 data shows the school ranking 1,953rd in England for A-level outcomes (national lower band), this aggregate figure can mask the individual successes of students on specific pathways. The school’s dual focus on academic A-levels and vocational qualifications means the "average grade" metric does not always capture the full picture of student success.

The curriculum is broad and ambitious. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9), the school maintains a three-year programme rather than compressing it, ensuring students have time to enjoy subjects like art, drama, and music before narrowing their choices. The "Cleeve Baccalaureate" in these lower years is a distinctive feature; it credits students for developing skills in leadership, community, and creative thinking alongside their academic grades.

In the classroom, teaching is structured and consistent. The 2025 inspection noted that teachers have strong subject knowledge and use assessment well to check understanding. In core subjects like mathematics and science, setting is used to allow for targeted pacing. The most able students are stretched with high-level problem solving, while those needing support receive more scaffolded instruction.

The History curriculum is a good example of the school's approach to depth and diversity. It moves beyond standard topics to include modules on the Kingdom of Benin and Indigenous Peoples of the Plains, alongside traditional studies of the Tudors and the 20th Century. This ensures students develop a global perspective.

In the Sixth Form, teaching leverages the Centre of Excellence facilities. Seminar rooms and independent study zones mimic a university environment. The blend of A-levels and vocational courses (such as BTECs and CTECs) is managed carefully, ensuring students are on the right pathway for their future, whether that is a Russell Group university or a higher apprenticeship.

Cleeve School is pragmatic and forward-looking regarding destinations. In 2024, 47% of leavers progressed to university. While this figure is typical for a comprehensive, the apprenticeship data is where the school truly shines. A notable 6% of students secured apprenticeships, often with prestigious local employers in the engineering, cyber-security, and aerospace sectors that cluster around Cheltenham.

For those aiming for university, the pathway is well-trodden. Students regularly secure places at Russell Group institutions, with popular destinations including Cardiff, Bristol, and Birmingham. Oxbridge success is celebrated, with one student securing a place in the most recent cycle. The Sixth Form team provides dedicated support for early applicants (medics, vets, and Oxbridge), including interview practice and personal statement workshops.

The school's Careers Hub is highly active. It organises the "Cleeve Extra" enrichment programme which includes visits to universities and employer talks. The connection with local industry is a major asset; students benefit from work experience opportunities that are often unavailable to schools in less economically active areas.

Admission to Cleeve School is coordinated by Gloucestershire County Council. The school is consistently oversubscribed. In 2024, there were 615 applications for 306 Year 7 places, a ratio of two applicants for every seat.

The admissions criteria prioritises looked-after children and those with an EHCP naming the school. Siblings of current students are next, followed by children of staff. The remaining places are allocated based on straight-line distance from the school. The catchment area effectively shrinks in years of high demand; families living in the outer villages or the northern fringe of Cheltenham should not assume a place is guaranteed.

For Year 7 entry in September 2026, families must apply via the Gloucestershire County Council website by 31 October 2025. National Offer Day is 1 March 2026.

Sixth Form admissions are handled directly by the school. Applications typically open in November and close in January. External applicants are welcome but must meet the academic entry requirements: generally a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, with Grade 6 required for most A-level subjects.

Pastoral care is a strength, rated "Outstanding" in the area of personal development. The House system is the backbone of this support. Upon arrival, every student joins a House—Attenborough, Holmes, Nightingale, Rowling, or Shackleton—and remains in it for five years. This vertical structure allows younger students to mix with older ones, creating a sense of family within the larger school.

Tutors are the daily point of contact, supported by non-teaching Student Support Leaders who are available throughout the day to handle issues that cannot wait until break time. The "Hub" offers a sanctuary for students who find the busy playground environment overwhelming, providing a quiet space for lunch and socialising.

The school takes mental health seriously. There is a dedicated team for safeguarding and wellbeing, and the PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) curriculum is comprehensive, covering topics from healthy relationships to online safety. Inspectors noted that students feel safe and know who to talk to if they have worries.

Extracurricular life is marketed as "Cleeve Extra" and is integral to the school day. The range of clubs is extensive. Sport is a major pillar; the facilities include a large sports hall, a squash court, a dance studio, and a floodlit astroturf pitch. Teams compete regionally in rugby, football, netball, and cricket, and the staff cricket team is a fixture of the summer term.

The Arts are vibrant. The drama department utilises a dedicated studio and the main hall for annual productions that involve large casts and crews. Music is supported by a recital room and practice suites, with peripatetic teachers offering lessons in everything from drums to violin. The Jazz Band and School Choir are regulars at local events like the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Beyond sport and arts, the "Super-Curriculum" encourages academic breadth. The Eco-Club drives sustainability on campus, while the STEM club leverages the science labs for practical projects. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is popular, with large numbers of students completing Bronze and Silver expeditions in the Cotswolds. Trips are frequent and varied, ranging from geography fieldwork to visits to the Black Country Museum and local magistrates' courts.

Cleeve School is a state-funded academy, meaning there are no tuition fees for students in Years 7 to 13. Education is free at the point of delivery.

For Sixth Form students, the school administers the 16-19 Bursary Fund. This financial support is available to students who face financial barriers to staying in education. It is split into two types:

• Vulnerable Bursary: For students in care, care leavers, or those receiving certain benefits in their own right.
• Discretionary Bursary: For students from households with lower incomes (typically under £25,521) to help with the costs of transport, books, equipment, and field trips.

Parents of younger students (Years 7-11) may be eligible for Free School Meals, which also triggers Pupil Premium funding to support their child's education.

The school day runs from 8:40am to 3:10pm. The site is located on Two Hedges Road in Bishops Cleeve. While many students walk from the local village, a network of school buses serves those travelling from Winchcombe and the northern suburbs of Cheltenham.

Wraparound care is not provided in the primary sense, but the library is open before and after school for independent study. The school operates a cashless catering system with biometric recognition, serving breakfast, break, and lunch options in the main canteen and satellite outlets.

Scale and Size. With over 1,500 students, Cleeve is a large, busy environment. While the House system provides a smaller community feel, students need a degree of independence to navigate the campus and the timetable. It suits children who enjoy a bustling atmosphere; those who prefer a very small, quiet setting might find it initially daunting.

Oversubscription. The school is heavily oversubscribed, with two applicants for every place in 2024. Families moving into the area specifically for the school must verify their distance carefully. Living in Bishops Cleeve does not automatically guarantee a place if the cohort is particularly large.

Sixth Form Focus. The "Outstanding" rating for the Sixth Form and the separate Centre of Excellence make this a particularly strong option for post-16 study. Families looking for a school that offers a seamless transition to a high-quality Sixth Form without the need to move institutions will find this attractive.

Cleeve School is a modern, ambitious academy that has successfully scaled up without losing its community heart. The "Outstanding" personal development and Sixth Form provision (Ofsted 2025) speak to a school that cares as much about the adult the student becomes as the grades they achieve. It is best suited to students who are ready to engage with the opportunities of a large, energetic campus and who will thrive in a diverse, mixed community. The main challenge is securing a place in Year 7.