Balcarras School is a secondary school in Cheltenham, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Balcarras School currently has around 1429 pupils on roll, which is about 105% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 48.7% boys and 51.3% girls. Around 6.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 4.7%. Persistent absence is recorded at 9.7%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (80.3%).
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 99% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (96%) , including 74% who stay in school sixth forms and 7% progressing to further education , while 2% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | East End Road, Cheltenham, GL53 8QF |
| Website: | http://www.balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk/ |
| Telephone: | 01242515881 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Gloucestershire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Dominic Burke |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 136474 |
Ofsted inspection date: 04/03/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1359 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1429 |
| Number of Boys: | 696 |
| Number of Girls: | 733 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 4.7% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 9.7% | 8.2% |
| White British | 80.30% | 1147 |
| Other White | 4.60% | 66 |
| Unclassified | 3.40% | 48 |
| Other Mixed | 2.80% | 40 |
| White and Asian | 2.00% | 28 |
| Chinese | 2.00% | 28 |
| Indian | 1.00% | 15 |
| Other Asian | 0.70% | 10 |
| White and Black African | 0.60% | 9 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.60% | 9 |
| Irish | 0.60% | 8 |
| African | 0.50% | 7 |
| Pakistani | 0.30% | 4 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 0.20% | 3 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.20% | 3 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.10% | 2 |
| Caribbean | 0.10% | 1 |
| Other Black | 0.10% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlton Kings Junior School East End Road , Charlton Kings GL53 8QE | - not rated | 157 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Charlton Kings Junior School East End Road , Charlton Kings GL53 8QE | 3out of 4 | 157 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Charlton Kings Infant School Lyefield Road East , Charlton Kings GL53 8AY | - not rated | 534 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Charlton Kings Infants' School Lyefield Road East , Charlton Kings GL53 8AY | 3out of 4 | 534 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Glenfall Community Primary School Glenfall Way , Charlton Kings GL52 6XZ | 3out of 4 | 707 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balcarras School East End Road , Charlton Kings GL53 8QF | - not rated | 0 yd | Foundation school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Balcarras School East End Road , Charlton Kings GL53 8QF | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Edward's School Cirencester Road , Charlton Kings GL53 8EY | - not rated | 1,325 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ashley Manor Preparatory School London Road , Charlton Kings GL52 6NR | - not rated | 1,335 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Richard Pate School Southern Road , Leckhampton GL53 9RP | - not rated | 2,124 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Good Hope School Leckhampton Baptist Church, Pilley Lane , Leckhampton GL53 9EP | - not rated | 2,300 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Battledown School Harp Hill , Battledown GL52 6PZ | 3out of 4 | 2,350 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.