Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre

State school · Mixed · ages 11–18 · with sixth formGloucestershire, Cheltenham GL51school website

One in three sixth-formers go on to university — in line with the England rate.

Where this school leads
36%

of sixth-form leavers started university · Gloucestershire 36% · England 37% · DfE destination measures, students who left in 2023

Knowledge sphere of Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre: fields of knowledge mapped by the subjects taken here, by ISCED levelLanguage & Communication · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Language & Communication · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 46%Language & Communication · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Language & Communication · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 39%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Mathematics & Statistics · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Natural Sciences · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 42%Natural Sciences · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Natural Sciences · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 13%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Digital & ICT Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 37%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Engineering & Manufacturing · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Health & Safety · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 42%Health & Safety · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Health & Safety · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Business & Administration · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 22%Business & Administration · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Business & Administration · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 3%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Law & Public Administration · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 10%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Social & Cultural Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 22%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Arts & Humanities · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Transversal Skills · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 27%Transversal Skills · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Transversal Skills · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 1 Primary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 2 Lower secondary (Key Stage 3): 100%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 3 Upper secondary (GCSE, A level): 47%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 4 Post-secondary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 5 Short-cycle tertiary: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 6 Bachelor's: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 7 Master's: 0%Green & Sustainability · ISCED 8 Doctoral: 0%LanguageMathsScienceICTEngineeringHealthBusinessLawSocialArtsTransversalGreen
Ofsted
Good
Places
—
Pupils
1,846
Free school meals
23.7%

Ofsted: Full inspection, 27 September 2022 · report. Places: the last distance at which places were offered is not on file (it comes from Gloucestershire’s allocation statistics). Pupils: of 1,958 places, including the sixth form. Free school meals: pupils eligible, a measure of family income.

Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre (URN 115769, until 1 May 2011).

After Year 11 · age 16

Where do pupils go at 16?

91%stayed in education after Year 11
This school91%
Gloucestershire85%
England86%

DfE Key Stage 4 destination measures · 286 pupils who left Year 11 in 2023

Of the 286 pupils who finished Year 11 at Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre in 2023, 65% stayed on in Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre’s own sixth form (Gloucestershire average 46%), 20% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.

Stayed in education — counted only if the pupil was still there for two terms of the next year; apprenticeships and jobs are counted the same way.

Full breakdown11
MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Pupils in the cohort2866,782607,348
Any sustained destination96%93%92%
Stayed in education91%85%86%
— school sixth form65%46%34%
— sixth form college5%11%13%
— further education college20%26%37%
— other education—2%2%
Apprenticeship3%4%3%
Employment2%4%3%
No sustained destination3%5%6%
Destination unknown1%2%3%
After sixth form · age 18

Where do sixth-formers go at 18?

19%went to one of the most selective universities
This school19%
Gloucestershire22%
England19%

DfE 16–18 destination measures · 130 students who left in 2023

36% went to university (England 37%). 5% started an apprenticeship (England 7%). 39% went into work and 8% had no steady place a year on (England 28% and 16%).

Most selective universities — the third of UK universities whose entrants hold the highest grades; the share is of students who completed level 3 qualifications.

Full breakdown7
MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Students in the cohort1306,744541,441
Any sustained destination88%84%79%
University (higher education)36%36%37%
— most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students19%22%19%
Further education6%3%5%
Apprenticeship5%8%7%
Employment39%36%28%
No sustained destination8%12%16%
Universities · named

Which universities did they go to?

1university has told us how many applied, were offered a place and enrolled

Named universities — most schools do not publish this; the official DfE figures above only say how many went to university and how selective those universities were.

universities’ answers to sch.today’s Freedom of Information requests · request tracker

What universities’ own admissions data say3

For each entry year: how many of this school’s students applied, received an offer and enrolled. Counts under five are shown as “<5” to protect individuals. Applications exclude Clearing; enrolments are students who completed registration.

UniversityEntry yearAppliedOffersEnrolled
University of Bristol20254034<5
20241511<5
20231510<5

A university’s enrolment count and a school’s own destinations list can differ: the school counts places accepted in the summer, the university counts students registered in the autumn.

GCSE · Year 11 · 2025

How do GCSE results compare?

48.1Attainment 8 score, out of 90
This school48.1
Gloucestershire50.3
England46.1

Attainment 8 — average GCSE points across eight subjects, English and maths counted twice; grade 5 in everything scores 50.

DfE performance tables 2024/2025 · 303 pupils in Year 11

20% of pupils here are disadvantaged (England 28%). Disadvantaged pupils here scored 35.9 — above disadvantaged pupils across England (34.9).

47% got grade 5 or above in both English and maths (Gloucestershire 53%, England 45%).

Grade 5 — a “strong pass”; grade 4 is a “standard pass”. Progress 8 is not published for 2025: this cohort had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020–21, so there is no baseline.

All GCSE measures10
MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Attainment 8 (average points per pupil)48.150.346.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%53%45%
Grade 4 or above in English and maths70%71%65%
Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects19%31%41%
EBacc average point score3.984.404.09
Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort20%19%28%
Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils35.934.634.9
Attainment 8 — other pupils51.254.050.4
Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2)———
English as an additional language10%9%19%
Subjects · 2025

What do pupils study?

40.13%of the Key Stage 3, GCSE and A level curriculum mapped by the subjects taken here

Mapped — the share of the 3,288 learning outcomes the Department for Education sets for these stages that the subjects taken here cover, weighted by how many pupils take each.

DfE subject entries 2025 · curriculum catalogue by sch.today

At A level it is Religious Studies: 21% of students (England 4%).

Green & Sustainability47%
Language & Communication46%
Natural Sciences42%
Health & Safety42%
Mathematics & Statistics39%

Fields of knowledge — twelve fields the curriculum catalogue sorts every learning outcome into; the bars show the GCSE and A level ring.

GCSE subjects34

Entries as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.

SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEnglandGrades 7–9EnglandGrades 4–9
Mathematics29999%88%14%22%81%
English Language29999%89%13%20%76%
English Literature28694%86%14%21%74%
Combined Science23879%65%8%9%70%
Geography10836%41%25%25%65%
History10535%41%31%26%81%
Business Studies9832%18%30%20%76%
Religious Studies6622%31%53%32%94%
Design and Technology5819%11%28%23%71%
Biology5819%23%34%45%93%
Computer Science5719%13%18%30%60%
Chemistry5719%23%44%47%95%
Physics5618%23%36%46%95%
French5217%18%12%29%60%
Fine Art5117%9%18%28%82%
Food Preparation and Nutrition4415%8%32%21%68%
Physical Education4114%11%15%24%88%
Spanish3913%19%26%27%72%
Drama3612%7%25%27%61%
Photography3311%6%18%19%100%
Sociology269%4%31%21%88%
Dance176%1%6%27%71%
Media Studies155%4%20%20%80%
Music145%5%71%33%100%
3D Design124%2%17%16%100%
Chinese52%1%—75%—
Arabic41%1%—47%—
Astronomy41%0%—29%—
Polish41%1%—84%—
Portuguese41%0%—50%—
Russian31%0%—87%—
Psychology10%3%—22%—
Turkish10%0%—71%—
German10%5%—33%—
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications5
SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Computer Appreciation / Introduction4527%—
Sports Studies4225%—
Health Studies3722%—
Small Business Management3622%—
Additional Mathematics FSMQ106%—
A level subjects31

Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.

SubjectEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Business Studies5030%13%
Mathematics3421%31%
Religious Studies3421%4%
Psychology2817%23%
Economics2314%13%
Geography2113%10%
Biology2012%20%
Sociology1811%13%
History1610%13%
Physics159%12%
Media Studies159%4%
Photography127%3%
English Literature127%11%
Physical Education117%3%
Fine Art117%3%
Graphic Communication117%2%
Chemistry117%17%
Computer Science117%5%
English Language and Literature117%2%
Film Studies106%2%
Politics95%6%
Drama74%2%
Music Technology64%0%
French——1%
Further Mathematics——5%
Polish——0%
German——0%
Product Design——2%
Spanish——2%
D and T Textiles Technology——0%
Music——0%
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses8
SubjectQualificationEntriesShare of cohortEngland
Social ScienceVRQ Level 33119%—
Study SkillsExtended Project (Diploma)2415%—
Business StudiesOCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 32213%—
Computer Architecture / SystemsBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*1610%—
Mathematical StudiesCore Maths Qualifications at Level 3159%—
Sports StudiesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*138%—
Health StudiesBTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D*85%—
Sports StudiesBTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D)———
A level results8
MeasureThis schoolGloucestershireEngland
Students at the end of 16–18 study378——
— of whom A level students1654,019261,341
Average A level gradeB-B-B-
Average points per A level entry35.1636.2835.00
Average grade, best 3 A levelsB-B-B-
AAB or better with two facilitating subjects8%20%18%
Average grade, applied general courses———
Average grade, T levels———
Fields of knowledge, all stages12
Language & Communication57%
Green & Sustainability57%
Natural Sciences53%
Health & Safety52%
Mathematics & Statistics45%
Engineering & Manufacturing43%
Transversal Skills38%
Arts & Humanities29%
Digital & ICT Skills26%
Business & Administration24%
Social & Cultural Skills14%
Law & Public Administration10%

Ideas pupils meet most, weighted by the share of the cohort taking the subjects that teach them:

fraction 16.3percentage 11.6ratio 11.1gradient 9.5vocabulary 9.1translation 7.9power 7.8reflection 7.6equation 7.2particle model 7.1root 7.1grammar 6.9audience 6.7energy transfer 6.6standard form 6.3area 6.0formulae 6.0graph 5.9evidence 5.9percentage change 5.8impact 5.8context 5.7scale 5.5change of state 5.4

Coverage counts a subject’s outcomes in proportion to the share of the cohort entered for it; Combined Science counts as two thirds of the three separate sciences. Levels follow ISCED 2011 as UNESCO maps it for the UK: Key Stage 3 is ISCED 2; GCSE and A level are both ISCED 3. Methodology: about the data.

Careers

Which jobs use what’s taught here?

12apprenticeship standards closely match the subjects pupils take

A match of what’s taught, not of entry requirements: the standards whose knowledge and skills share the most ideas with the GCSEs and A levels taken here, weighted by how many pupils take each subject.

Level 3 / Level 6 — England’s qualification levels: 3 is A level standard, 4–5 are higher apprenticeships, 6 is a bachelor’s degree.

Skills England apprenticeship standards (Open Government Licence v3.0) · ESCO occupations, © European Union, matched by sch.today · how the match works

Water industry asset maintenance technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses ratio, percentage, graph from Business Studies, Computer Science, Economics and 15 more · jobs: consumer electronics repair technician, industrial electrician, electrician
Process industry manufacturing technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses pressure, conservation of mass, energy change from Biology, Chemistry, Design and Technology and 6 more · jobs: chemical engineering technician, chemical manufacturing quality technician, chemical production manager
ScientistLevel 6 degree apprenticeship · health and science · uses conclusion, data interpretation, experimental design from Biology, Chemistry, Geography and 9 more · jobs: physicist, analytical chemist, geneticist
More apprenticeships9
Geoscientist (integrated degree)Level 6 degree apprenticeship · health and science · uses data interpretation, climate change, conduct field work from Business Studies, Computer Science, Geography and 7 more · jobs: geologist, geological engineer, exploration geologist
Science manufacturing technician 2023Level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses unit conversion, graph, pressure from Biology, Biology, Chemistry and 4 more · jobs: pharmaceutical engineer, chemical manufacturing quality technician, pharmacy technician
Battery manufacturing technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses area, unit conversion, volume from Chemistry, Physics, Chemistry and 4 more · jobs: battery test technician
Data technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · digital · uses mean, integer, chart from Computer Science, Geography, Mathematics and 12 more · jobs: data analyst, database administrator, data scientist
Non-destructive technologies technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses ratio, data interpretation, si unit from Business Studies, Economics, Mathematics and 8 more
Artificial intelligence (AI) data specialistLevel 7 degree apprenticeship · digital · uses presentation, data presentation, experimental design from Business Studies, Computer Science, Economics and 13 more · jobs: ICT intelligent systems designer
Water industry network technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses standard form, unit conversion, volume from Biology, Chemistry, Design and Technology and 4 more · jobs: sewerage network operative, product quality inspector, sewerage maintenance technician
Production assistant - screen and audioLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · creative and design · uses spelling, punctuation, grammar from Media Studies, English Literature, Media Studies and 2 more · jobs: factory hand, supply chain assistant, management assistant
Bulk storage terminal technicianLevel 3 (advanced) apprenticeship · engineering and manufacturing · uses graph, density, unit conversion from Business Studies, Economics, Mathematics and 5 more
Admissions

How do you get a place?

The last distance at which Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre offered Year 7 places is not yet on file; it comes from Gloucestershire’s allocation statistics.

  1. 31 OctApply to Gloucestershire in Year 6 for a Year 7 place
  2. 1 MarNational Offer Day
  3. Dec–FebYear 11: apply directly to the sixth form; most close applications in these months
Gloucestershire

Compare with nearby schools

Stayed in education at 16 · Attainment 8 · pupils

Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.