The Corsham School Review 2026: A well-organised 11 to 18 comprehensive with a strong sixth form pathway

For families in Corsham and the surrounding villages, The Corsham School is the main 11 to 18 option, with a sixth form that is deliberately positioned as a natural continuation rather than a separate add on. The most recent Ofsted visit (January 2025) confirmed the school has maintained the standards from the previous graded inspection, and the report describes high expectations for achievement and conduct alongside a thorough transition for students joining at Year 7 and mid year.

Academically, GCSE outcomes sit in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile), while still ranking first locally within the Corsham area on FindMySchool measures. A level results are also in the middle 35% of England providers, which suggests a sixth form that performs steadily rather than selectively filtering who can study. The draw is the breadth, including strong enrichment, meaningful leadership via the house system, and a sixth form that explicitly supports different pathways, from A levels and EPQ to high level BTECs.

The culture is shaped by two design choices that matter day to day. First, the house system is not decorative, it is a structural part of pastoral oversight from early in Year 7, with named house heads (Burlington, Freestone, Hazelbury, Stockwell) and a stated aim of building cross age support, leadership and healthy competition.

Second, the school leans on student participation to create belonging. In Ofsted’s January 2025 report, the picture is of a school where pupils feel supported emotionally and physically, and where students have channels to influence decisions, including “house champion groups”. That sort of feedback loop tends to be most visible in practical changes, such as smoothing transitions between spaces or routines, rather than grand strategic rewrites.

There is also a clear attempt to balance expectations with support. The same report highlights youth workers who speak with pupils, and it notes that pupils are confident staff act quickly when relationships are not as they should be. That matters for parents weighing the emotional temperature of a large comprehensive, because it indicates a system designed for early intervention rather than only reacting at crisis point.

The Corsham School is a state school with no tuition fees.

GCSE outcomes (headline measures)

On FindMySchool’s GCSE ranking (based on official outcomes data), The Corsham School is ranked 1,876th in England and 1st locally in the Corsham area for GCSE outcomes, placing it in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

The attainment picture is consistent with that positioning. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 45.9 and Progress 8 is +0.13, which indicates students make above average progress overall from their starting points. EBacc average point score is 4.09, closely aligned to the England average of 4.08.

A practical implication for families is that the school is not relying on a small, highly selected cohort to generate its results. The school is oversubscribed and serves a broad local intake, so the more relevant question is often how consistently teaching practice is delivered across subjects and year groups, and how quickly gaps are identified and addressed.

Parents comparing options nearby can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to see the same GCSE measures side by side, including Progress 8 and the local ranking context, rather than relying on impressions.

A level outcomes (sixth form)

On FindMySchool’s A level ranking (based on official outcomes data), the sixth form is ranked 1,399th in England and 1st locally in the Corsham area for A level outcomes, again reflecting performance in line with the middle 35% of England providers (25th to 60th percentile).

Grade proportions show 4.52% A*, 16.08% A, 24.12% B, and 44.72% at A* to B. Against England averages, the A* to B proportion is slightly below the England benchmark of 47.2%, and A* to A is below the England benchmark of 23.6%.

The implication is a sixth form that should suit students who want a broad course menu and structured support, including those aiming for competitive routes, but where the typical student experience is more “steady and well managed” than “ultra high pressure”.

The most useful evidence here is the detail in the latest Ofsted report rather than general statements. The curriculum is described as well sequenced, with leaders considering both range and relevance in the sixth form so that students choose courses that prepare them for next steps.

Where the report is more challenging is also helpful for parents. It notes that in some cases, learning is not explained as clearly or precisely as it could be, which means pupils do not always make the progress they could. That is not a headline failure, but it is a signal to ask subject specific questions on an open evening, especially about consistency between classes and how teaching quality is monitored.

Reading is a particularly concrete example of improvement work in motion. The school promotes reading widely, including tutor reading routines and sixth formers supporting younger pupils. At the same time, the report says the work to identify the precise needs of pupils at early stages of reading is more recent, and that an intensive support programme has been newly implemented. The implication is that parents of students who enter Year 7 with weaker literacy should ask how screening works, what intervention looks like, and how quickly progress is reviewed.

The school’s sixth form aims to serve multiple pathways. The Ofsted January 2025 report states that students are successful in their chosen routes, including progression to university, and the broader sixth form messaging makes explicit room for A levels, EPQ and high level BTECs.

For a concrete statistical snapshot of destinations, the 2023 to 2024 leavers data shows 46% progressed to university, 29% entered employment, 5% started apprenticeships, and 4% moved into further education. This is a practical indicator of mixed routes rather than a one track university pipeline, which can be reassuring for families who want a sixth form that treats apprenticeships and employment as mainstream outcomes rather than fallback options.

For the most academically competitive route, Oxford and Cambridge outcomes in the measurement period show 7 applications, 1 offer, and 1 acceptance (at Cambridge). In a large, inclusive sixth form, that profile typically indicates that Oxbridge is supported for the right candidates but is not the dominant culture for most students.

Year 7 entry, how it works

Admissions for Year 7 are coordinated by Wiltshire Council rather than handled directly by the school. The local authority timetable for 2026 entry indicates an application deadline of 31 October 2025, with offers released on 2 March 2026.

The school’s published admissions arrangements for 2026 to 2027 state a Year 7 Published Admission Number (PAN) of 240 and also reference the deadline for Year 7 2026 applications as 31 October 2025 (the policy specifies a midday deadline).

Demand is strong. In the latest admissions demand snapshot, there were 363 applications for 244 offers, with an applications to offers ratio of 1.49, and the school is classified as oversubscribed. In practical terms, families should treat it as a school where preference alone does not secure a place.

Parents making a distance based decision should use FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise home to school distance and understand how that compares to recent allocation patterns, particularly as distance cut offs can shift materially year to year.

Open events

For Year 7 entry, the school advertises an annual open evening on Thursday 18 June 2026.

For sixth form, the school advertises an open evening on Thursday 13 November 2025, with presentations at 6pm and 7pm and no booking required.

Sixth form entry

Sixth form admissions are structured with different timelines for internal and external applicants. The school states that internal Year 11 students who intend to return can apply after a 15 December taster day, while external application links follow the November open evening.

For entry standards, the sixth form leadership states that students need a minimum of five grade 5s at GCSE to be offered a place, with some subjects requiring higher grades.

The school calendar also flags a 30 January deadline for September 2026 sixth form applications.

Pastoral architecture is unusually explicit. Students are anchored by tutor time and then, from later in Year 7, by the house system, with oversight from heads of house and structured opportunities for leadership and peer support.

Ofsted’s January 2025 report adds a useful detail for parents, it references youth workers who spend time speaking with pupils and are well received. That is a concrete staffing choice, and it usually signals a school that expects routine emotional support needs in a large intake and plans capacity accordingly.

The school also publishes wellbeing guidance and signposting, including material on support for young carers and broader mental health resources. The practical value here is not the existence of a policy, it is the clarity on how students are identified and supported when circumstances outside school affect attendance, organisation, or emotional regulation.

The extracurricular offer is one of the school’s defining strengths, because it is described in specific, verifiable ways rather than general claims.

A clear example is performing arts. The January 2025 Ofsted report references a whole school production of Hamlet involving many pupils across year groups. That level of involvement suggests a model where school productions are not reserved for a small specialist cohort, which is often what parents are trying to understand when they ask whether drama is “for everyone” or “for a few”.

Reading culture is also given a named vehicle. The report references “Lit Soc” sharing book recommendations via a newsletter. It is a small detail, but it signals a school that is trying to normalise reading socially, not only as intervention.

For leadership and community action, the report mentions the “Awesome Corsham” programme encouraging pupils to build experiences as active citizens. In practice, programmes like this tend to translate into volunteering, community linked projects, and structured recognition of participation, which can suit students who respond well to purposeful activity rather than purely competitive achievement.

Sport and outdoor learning are supported by local facilities. The school prospectus highlights regular use of the Springfield Community Campus for PE, including astroturf, a swimming pool, a sports hall, a fitness suite and a climbing wall.

Older students also have access to longer form development programmes. The school offers Duke of Edinburgh Award participation from Year 9 through Year 13, across Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The same prospectus references participation in World Challenge trips, with examples including India, Morocco, Iceland and Peru, plus student exchanges with partner schools in France and Germany.

Sixth form enrichment has its own flavour. Corsham Sixth states that timetabled yoga is available to help students manage modern pressures, alongside EPQ and other enrichment options.

The school day runs from 08:40 morning registration to a 15:00 finish, with a published 31 hour week. The timetable also specifies 15:00 to 16:00 as a slot for extra curricular and homework clubs.

For travel, the school publishes “Journey to School” resources including a cycling map, guidance for car journeys, and bus information and maps.

Mobile phone expectations are explicit, devices are switched off and kept in bags on site, and students may switch phones on at 15:00 once the school day ends.

• Competition for places. The school is oversubscribed and the most recent demand snapshot shows 363 applications for 244 offers. Families should approach admissions strategically and use the Wiltshire coordinated timeline rather than assuming a place is likely.

• Teaching consistency. The latest Ofsted report highlights strong curriculum sequencing and positive culture, while also noting that explanation is not always clear or precise in some lessons. It is worth asking how departments standardise practice and how quickly gaps are addressed.

• Reading support is strengthening, but relatively new. The school has introduced a more intensive approach for pupils with early reading gaps. For students entering Year 7 with weaker literacy, parents should ask what screening happens on entry and how progress is tracked.

• Sixth form entry thresholds are real. The school states minimum GCSE grade expectations for entry to the sixth form, with higher requirements for some subjects. That structure will suit students ready for greater independence, but it is important to plan early if a student’s GCSE profile may sit on the margins.

The Corsham School offers a well organised comprehensive experience with a clear pastoral structure, a purposeful enrichment culture, and a sixth form that supports multiple routes rather than only one definition of success. The most recent Ofsted evidence points to high expectations, a positive culture, and genuine breadth of opportunity, alongside sensible areas for continued improvement, particularly around precision of teaching and early reading support.

Best suited to families who want a single 11 to 18 pathway in Corsham, with strong extracurricular options and a sixth form that keeps doors open to university, apprenticeships, and employment. The main constraint is entry, demand is consistently high.