Schools in Gloucestershire
304 schools in 39 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Gloucestershire at a glance
- Schools
- 304 241 state primary, 41 state secondary, 3 sixth-form or college and 19 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 90% 207 of the 230 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 35 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 78 Of 262 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 26% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 72 of 282 state schools that take an intake. Gloucestershire's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Gloucestershire
Primary
| Place in Gloucestershire | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coaley Church of England Primary Academy | Dursley | 1st (1/208) |
| 2 | Meysey Hampton Church of England Primary School | Cirencester | Top 1% (2/208) |
| 3 | Stone with Woodford Church of England Primary School | Berkeley | Top 2% (3/208) |
| 4 | Leighterton Primary School | Tetbury | Top 2% (4/208) |
| 5 | Primrose Hill Church of England Primary Academy | Lydney | Top 3% (5/208) |
| 6 | Amberley Parochial School | Stroud | Top 3% (6/208) |
| 7 | Steam Mills Primary School | Cinderford | Top 4% (7/208) |
| 8 | Coberley Church of England Primary School | Cheltenham | Top 4% (8/208) |
| 9 | Charlton Kings Junior School | Cheltenham | Top 5% (9/208) |
| 10 | Parkend Primary School | Lydney | Top 5% (10/208) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Gloucestershire primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Gloucestershire | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pate's Grammar School | Cheltenham | 1st (1/40) |
| 2 | Sir Thomas Rich's School | Gloucester | Top 5% (2/40) |
| 3 | Denmark Road High School | Gloucester | Top 8% (3/40) |
| 4 | Stroud High School | Stroud | Top 10% (4/40) |
| 5 | The Crypt School | Gloucester | Top 13% (5/40) |
| 6 | Marling School | Stroud | Top 15% (6/40) |
| 7 | Ribston Hall High School | Gloucester | Top 18% (7/40) |
| 8 | Balcarras School | Cheltenham | Top 20% (8/40) |
| 9 | The High School Leckhampton | Cheltenham | Top 23% (9/40) |
| 10 | The Cotswold Academy | Cheltenham | Top 25% (10/40) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Gloucestershire secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Berkeley 4 schools · best schools
- Cheltenham 62 schools · best schools
- Cinderford 6 schools · best schools
- Cirencester 18 schools · best schools
- Coleford 7 schools · best schools
- Dursley 8 schools · best schools
- Gloucester 78 schools · best schools
- Lydney 11 schools · best schools
- Stonehouse 9 schools · best schools
- Stroud 32 schools · best schools
- Tetbury 5 schools · best schools
- Tewkesbury 13 schools · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 November 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Gloucestershire council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Gloucestershire council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Gloucestershire council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Gloucestershire council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Gloucestershire council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Gloucestershire council |
Every Gloucestershire admission date · After offer day in Gloucestershire: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Gloucestershire. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 72 of 282 state schools (26%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Gloucestershire: we hold checked fees for 10 of 19 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 250 nurseries and pre-schools in Gloucestershire, with fees held for 0. Nurseries in Gloucestershire by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Gloucestershire
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.