MixedIndependentBoarding

Cheltenham College

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, South West · GL53 7LD

Founded in 1841, Cheltenham College is a Church of England independent boarding and day school that draws together around 737 pupils, including a substantial sixth form of 326. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded it its highest grade of 'excellent' for both education and personal development, with all compliance requirements met. Set in Cheltenham, the College combines a long-established boarding tradition with co-educational day places, and a notably generous staffing model gives a great deal of individual attention. Means-tested bursaries reaching up to 100 percent sit alongside scholarships in academic work, art, drama, music, choral singing and sport, broadening who can take up a place.

737

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£45,808

Day fees / yr

Prepare for the 11+ free →School website ↗

Free month · No card needed · Cancel anytime

Schools nearby

Open in Google Maps ↗

Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 13-19
Pupils: 737
Pupil:teacher ratio: 1
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, South West
Website: www.cheltenhamcollege.org
Telephone: 01242 265600

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

Want your child to win a place at Cheltenham College?

Passmate builds a personalised practice plan from your target schools' exact 11+ topics - so every session moves your child closer to a place.

Practice matched to Cheltenham College's 11+ format
See precisely where your child stands, topic by topic
A profile of how they think - not just scores

Try Passmate for free →

Free month · No card needed

Headteacher

Head Chris Townsend

Latest results

Attainment 8

21.4

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

59%

A-level A*-A

51%

A-level A*-B

82%

Teaching & academics

At A-level, 51 percent of grades were A*-A and 82 percent reached A*-B, with sciences and mathematics among the most popular choices alongside history, geography and economics. At GCSE, 59 percent of grades fell in the 9-7 range. The College offers a broad curriculum spanning GCSE, A-level, BTEC and the EPQ, with French, German and Spanish all available, and supports around 13 percent of pupils through SEN provision.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 326

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsChemistryPhysicsBiologyHistoryGeographyEconomicsBusiness StudiesEnglish Literature

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelBTECEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 13.16%
EHC plans: 0%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicArtDramaMusicChoralSport

Languages

FrenchGermanSpanish

Popular GCSE subjects

English LanguageMathematicsDesign & TechnologyDrama & Theatre StudiesFrenchArt & Design (Fine Art)

Sport

Main sports

RugbyCricketHockeyNetball

Beyond the classroom

Sport runs deep here, with rugby, cricket, hockey and netball as the main games. Drama and the creative arts also feature strongly, reflected both in popular subjects such as Drama & Theatre Studies and Fine Art and in the scholarship routes for art, drama, music and choral talent.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1841
Religious character: C of E
Boarding: Yes

Mobile phone policy

Third, fourth and fifth form pupils hand phones in at 9pm, access devices at 8am. Lower college pupils no access during school day. Internet switched off at 10:30pm.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £44,247 - £45,808
Boarding fees (per year): £58,935 - £60,496
Bursaries up to: 100% of fees

Means-tested bursaries up to 100%

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 25 April 2023

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A historic, full-boarding C of E college with strong A-level results and an unusually high level of staff attention. Bursaries up to 100 percent mean its considerable fees need not be the final word for every family.

The Passmate verdict