Best secondary schools in Cheltenham: A complete 2026 guide

Cheltenham has a denser cluster of well-known schools than its size would suggest. The town is home to two of the better-known public schools in England, a heavily oversubscribed state grammar, and a set of strong state comprehensives. For families considering moving to or within the town, this gives a wide menu of options across sectors and price points.

This guide is for parents weighing up secondary options in Cheltenham, mixing independent, grammar and comprehensive schools. The aim is to give a clear starting point for further research, not a strict ranking. Visit in person, talk to current parents and check the most recent Ofsted reports before settling on a decision.

We have based this list on schools with a long track record of strong results, positive Ofsted reputations and consistent demand from local families. We have mixed independents, the town's state grammar and non-selective state schools so that the list works whatever route you are considering.

We have not invented Ofsted ratings or specific exam results. Where we describe a school's strengths we have used qualitative language based on widely reported information. You should always check the most recent Ofsted report and the Department for Education's compare-school-performance service before making a decision.

Cheltenham's independents are some of the better-known in England. The two largest, Cheltenham College and Cheltenham Ladies' College, are substantial institutions that draw pupils from across the UK and internationally. Boarding is a meaningful part of both schools' offer, and day places are also widely available for local families.

Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent boarding and day school founded in 1841. It sits on a large town centre campus.

The school is known for a wide subject offer at GCSE and A-Level, strong sport and a substantial international boarding community. Day places are available alongside boarding.

Cheltenham Ladies' College is an independent girls' boarding and day school founded in 1853. It is one of the better-known girls' schools in the country.

The school is known for a strong academic record and a wide cultural and co-curricular offer. Day places are available alongside boarding, and the school has a long history of progressing pupils to leading universities.

Dean Close is a co-educational independent boarding and day school on the western side of Cheltenham. It offers GCSE, A-Level and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

The school is known for a strong music and performing arts tradition. Boarding and day places are both available, with a substantial co-curricular offer.

Berkhampstead is an independent preparatory and pre-prep school in Cheltenham, with pupils typically moving on to senior independents at 11 or 13. It is not a full secondary school but is a common feeder for the larger Cheltenham independents.

The school is known for a personal, family-oriented culture and a strong record of senior school placements. Parents considering Cheltenham College or Dean Close often start at Berkhampstead. The school's small size means staff know pupils well, and the preparation for senior independent assessments is built into the curriculum.

Gloucestershire is a grammar school county, and Cheltenham sits at the heart of the system. The town hosts Pate's Grammar School, one of the more heavily oversubscribed state schools in the country, and pupils in the area also have access to grammars in Gloucester and surrounding towns. Entry is by the Gloucestershire 11+ test, sat in September of Year 6.

Pate's is a co-educational state grammar in Cheltenham, founded in 1574. It tends to be among the higher-performing state schools in England at GCSE and A-Level.

The school is known for a very high entry threshold on the Gloucestershire 11+ and for a strong record of university progression. Demand typically exceeds supply by a wide margin, and families often prepare in Year 5. Pate's draws applicants from across Gloucestershire and beyond, with no catchment-only admissions policy.

Most pupils in Cheltenham attend non-selective state secondaries. The town and immediate surroundings have several well-regarded comprehensives, with the most popular being heavily oversubscribed. Admissions are normally based on catchment and distance, with sibling links and other published criteria applied first.

Balcarras is a co-educational state academy in Charlton Kings, on the eastern side of Cheltenham. It is one of the more oversubscribed comprehensives in the area.

The school is known for consistently strong GCSE and A-Level results and a popular sixth form. Admission is non-selective and primarily distance-based.

Bournside is a co-educational state academy in Warden Hill, on the southern side of town. It is a large comprehensive serving a substantial catchment.

The school is known for a wide sixth form offer and a broad GCSE curriculum. Admission is non-selective and primarily distance-based.

All Saints' is a co-educational state secondary with a Church of England foundation under the Diocese of Gloucester, serving the south-west of Cheltenham. The school was originally established as a joint Anglican and Catholic academy, though the Diocese of Clifton has since withdrawn from the joint arrangement.

The school is known for a clear faith ethos and a wide curriculum at GCSE and A-Level. Admission gives priority to children of practising Anglican families.

Pittville is a co-educational 11 to 16 state secondary on the northern side of Cheltenham. It does not have a sixth form, with most students continuing post-16 study at one of the town's colleges.

The school is known for steady improvement in results and a supportive pastoral culture. Admission is non-selective and primarily distance-based.

Cleeve is a co-educational state secondary in Bishop's Cleeve, just north of Cheltenham. It serves a large catchment north of the town.

The school is known for a long-standing local reputation and a broad subject offer. Admission is non-selective and primarily distance-based.

League tables and open days only tell you so much. The right school for one child is often the wrong school for another, and the things that matter most are rarely visible from outside. Walk the route from your home to the school in school hours. Sit in on an open day and watch how staff and pupils interact when they think nobody is paying attention.

Think about practical factors too. Subject offer at GCSE and A-Level, commute time, pastoral support and the school's response when things go wrong all tend to matter more than headline results in the long run. One of the more useful questions to ask is what the school does for the average pupil, not what it does for its top set.

Cheltenham state school admissions are co-ordinated through Gloucestershire County Council. You list up to six schools in order of preference and submit by 31 October in Year 6, for entry the following September. National offer day is 1 March.

If your child is sitting the Gloucestershire 11+, you register separately in the summer before Year 6 and sit the test that September. Test results feed into the grammar schools' oversubscription criteria. Pate's has one of the higher entry thresholds in the country, so qualifying for the test is often not enough on its own.

Independent schools in Cheltenham run their own assessments, with timelines that vary by school. Bursary calendars often differ from standard admissions calendars, so apply early and check each school's specific guidance. Property prices inside the catchments of the more oversubscribed comprehensives tend to sit visibly above equivalent properties just outside the line.