Chipping Campden School Review 2026: Heritage and Ambition

Founded in 1440, Chipping Campden School sits in one of the most picturesque towns in the Cotswolds, yet its outlook is far from antiquated. While the honey-coloured stone and Tudor origins suggest a sleepy heritage institution, the reality is a forward-looking academy that has recently opened a professional-grade theatre and runs elite sports academies.

Serving a wide rural catchment across Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, the school acts as a community hub for 1,500 students. It balances this academic pedigree with a commitment to the arts and vocational pathways that is increasingly rare in the state sector. The opening of the Cidermill Theatre in 2022 signalled a clear intent to place creativity alongside the core curriculum, ensuring that students here have access to facilities that rival many independent schools.

Mr Gareth Burton, who became Principal in September 2023, leads an institution that feels settled in its identity. It manages the difficult dual role of being a local comprehensive for the town and a destination school for families willing to travel from further afield.

At drop-off, the gates reveal a campus that spans six centuries. The original 15th-century schoolroom still stands, a physical reminder of the school’s origins under founder John Fereby. However, students quickly move past the history to the modern blocks that house the majority of lessons. The site is an architectural patchwork that tells the story of state education, from Victorian additions to 1960s blocks and, most recently, the sleek lines of the performing arts centre.

The atmosphere is purposeful but distinctively rural. There is a lack of the frenetic urban pace found in city academies; instead, the school operates with a calm confidence. Students come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from local farming families to commuters from the larger towns of Evesham and Stratford-upon-Avon. This mix creates a grounded social environment where pretension is rare.

Leadership has worked hard to foster a sense of belonging in such a large school. The house system is active, providing a smaller social unit within the wider cohort. Mr Burton promotes a philosophy that values empowering individuals, and this is evident in the breadth of the sixth form offer and the investment in non-academic facilities. The school feels like a community asset rather than just an exam centre, a sentiment reinforced by the public availability of its sports and arts facilities in the evenings.

Academic performance is solid, reflecting the school's comprehensive intake and high expectations. In 2024, the school achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.16, indicating that students make above-average progress from their primary school starting points compared to peers across England.

At GCSE, the school ranks 1,446th in England, placing it in the top 31% of schools nationally. The average Attainment 8 score of 49.7 sits comfortably above the England average of 45.9. While not an exam factory, the school ensures the core subjects are delivered effectively; the average EBacc point score of 4.47 exceeds the national benchmark of 4.08.

In the Sixth Form, the picture is one of consistent delivery. The school ranks 1,213th in England for A-level outcomes, with performance that sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (national typical band). In 2024, 46% of grades were A*-B. While slightly below the England average of 47%, this figure must be viewed in the context of a large, inclusive sixth form that maintains a broad entry policy rather than cherry-picking only the most academic candidates. The focus here is on value-added and ensuring students on all courses, including vocational BTECs, achieve their potential.

The curriculum is designed to keep options open for as long as possible. In Key Stage 3, students follow a broad programme that maintains distinct identity for arts and technical subjects. Unlike many schools that have eroded design and technology or drama to focus solely on the EBacc, Chipping Campden maintains a commitment to these creative disciplines.

Teaching follows clear structures, with a focus on retrieval practice and checking for understanding. In the core subjects of English and mathematics, setting is used to tailor the pace of delivery, while mixed-ability grouping is common in creative subjects. The presence of the Cidermill Theatre has energised the performing arts faculty, with students now learning in professional-grade spaces that raise aspirations.

The sciences are popular, supported by specialist laboratories and a teaching team that includes several staff with industry experience. In the Sixth Form, the subject range is extensive, covering over 30 courses. This includes traditional A-levels alongside vocational qualifications in Sport, Business, and Criminology, reflecting the school’s commitment to serving the full ability range.

Destinations data highlights the diversity of student ambitions. In 2024, 48% of leavers progressed to university. The school has a functional pathway to elite institutions, with 8 students applying to Oxbridge in the most recent cycle, resulting in one successful offer.

However, the university route is not the sole focus. A significant 35% of leavers moved directly into employment or higher-level apprenticeships. This is notably higher than the national average and reflects strong links with local and regional employers, as well as the pragmatic, career-focused advice provided by the careers department.

Students also progress to further education colleges for specialist technical training not offered on site. The school supports these transitions well, ensuring that the 3% who move into apprenticeships secure high-quality placements in fields such as engineering, accountancy, and agriculture.

Chipping Campden School is an Academy, but admissions are coordinated by Gloucestershire County Council. The school is consistently oversubscribed, a testament to its strong local reputation. In 2024, there were 380 applications for the available places, resulting in a subscription proportion of 1.78 applications per place.

With 214 offers made, competition is genuine. The proportion of first preferences versus offers suggests that while many families secure their choice, those applying from outside the immediate catchment area face uncertainty. The admissions criteria prioritise looked-after children and siblings, followed by those living within the priority catchment area.

The Priority Catchment Area is wide, covering Chipping Campden and the surrounding North Cotswold parishes. Families living in this zone generally secure places, but new housing developments in the area are increasing pressure on numbers. For families outside this zone, admission depends on distance from the school gate. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Pastoral care is organised through a year-group system, supported by form tutors who see students daily. The school has invested in a non-teaching pastoral support team, ensuring that staff are available to deal with issues as they arise during the school day, rather than waiting for breaks.

The most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025 highlighted Personal Development as an Outstanding feature of the school. The report noted that students are well prepared for life in modern Britain and benefit from a rich set of experiences beyond the academic.

The vibe is supportive; bullying is rare and dealt with effectively when reported. The relatively rural location can sometimes lead to isolation for students living in scattered villages, so the school works hard to ensure the House system provides a sense of connection and competition that binds the community together.

The extracurricular offer is a defining strength, built around two major pillars: the Performing Arts and the Sports Academies.

Performing Arts

The opening of the Cidermill Theatre has transformed the cultural life of the school. This is not a typical school hall but a professional venue with an auditorium, dance studio, and technical suites. Students can join the Cidermill Academy of Performing Arts, engaging in drama, dance, and technical theatre production. Major school productions are now staged in a venue that mirrors the professional world, providing students with experience in lighting, sound, and stage management as well as performance.

Sports Academies

For talented athletes, the Performance Sports Academies in Rugby, Netball, and Hockey offer a structured pathway to elite performance. These academies provide specialist coaching, strength and conditioning sessions, and competitive fixtures against both state and independent schools. The facilities support this ambition, with a leisure centre, floodlit astroturf, and expansive playing fields.

Beyond these pillars, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is hugely popular, with hundreds of students navigating the Cotswold hills for their Bronze and Silver expeditions. Clubs range from the Coding Club to the Debating Society, ensuring that those with non-sporting interests are catered for. Trips are frequent, including ski trips to Europe, geography field trips to Iceland, and history tours to Berlin.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Parents are expected to fund uniforms, sports kits, and optional trips. Instrumental music lessons are available at an additional cost, though families eligible for Pupil Premium may receive support.

The school day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm. Given the rural catchment, transport is a critical consideration. A comprehensive network of school buses serves the surrounding villages and towns, including routes from Evesham, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Honeybourne. Parents should verify bus routes and costs early, as these are operated by the council and private contractors, not the school directly.

There is no on-site wraparound care for secondary students, though the library is typically open for homework after school. The canteen operates a cashless system, offering breakfast and lunch with a focus on locally sourced ingredients where possible.

Rural logistics: The catchment area is vast. Students travelling from the edges of the zone can face long bus journeys. This can impact their ability to participate in after-school clubs, particularly if parents cannot provide evening transport.

Oversubscription risk: With 1.78 applications per place, admission is not guaranteed even for those relatively local. Families moving into the area should not assume a place is automatic and should check their precise distance from the school gate relative to previous years.

Sixth Form entry: The Sixth Form is open to external applicants, but entry requirements for specific A-level courses can be strict. Students usually need a Grade 6 in the subject they wish to study, and a Grade 7 for Mathematics.

Chipping Campden School offers a compelling blend of heritage and modernity. It provides a genuine comprehensive education that serves the local community while offering facilities in arts and sport that many fee-paying schools would envy. Best suited to students who will seize the opportunities offered by the theatre and sports academies, and who thrive in a settled, supportive environment. The main challenge is securing a place in this popular and oversubscribed institution.