Balcarras School

The school commits to inclusion and aims for exceptional provision for children with SEND.

“- We are committed to inclusion and we will continue to strive to make sure that our provision for children with Special Educational Needs or Disability is second to none”

Teachers use adaptive teaching to meet pupils’ individual SEND needs within an inclusive curriculum.

“Teachers use proactive, adaptive teaching to meet the individual needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).”

Sixth-form tutors oversee students' welfare and academic progress through tutor-group meetings and regular individual tutorials.

“The role of the sixth form tutor is to be concerned with the welfare and academic progress of their students. Tutor groups meet as a whole, but there will also be regular individual tutorials at which your academic progress will be discussed.”

The sixth form has its own separate pastoral team.

“The sixth form has a separate pastoral team, information about which can be [found here](http://balcarras.ng3.devwebsite.co.uk/page/?title=Experience&pid=54).”

Boost members can mentor younger students through the Enrich programme.

“Boost members now also have the opportunity to act as mentors to lower school students through the new ''Enrich'' programme.”

Year 12 students participate in weekly PE with a broad choice of sports and recreational activities.

“Y12 students participate in a weekly PE lesson on a Wednesday afternoon. At the start of Y12 all students are given a list of activities that they can choose from – this includes football, badminton, basketball, fitness suite, couch to 5km, walking, games club, yoga, cinema club, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, netball, just dance, benchball.”

The sixth form is built around academic excellence and an enjoyable, enriching experience.

“Our Sixth form is built around 2 core elements: - Academic Excellence - An Enjoyable and Enriching Experience”

The school says every individual is valued and safe, students are inspired to broaden their horizons, and members feel pride in belonging to the community.

“We pride ourselves that this is a school where every individual is valued and feels safe, where all students are inspired not only to do their best but to expand their horizons, and where everyone involved in school life feels a great sense of pride and enjoyment at being part of this community.”

Students study four courses throughout Year 12 and ordinarily reduce to three for Year 13 after mock examinations and discussions with teachers.

“All students choose four courses. Four subjects are studied throughout Y12. Once the mock examinations have taken place, discussions will take place between students and their teachers to determine which of their four subjects they may wish to drop in time for Y13. When students return to Y13 after the summer, their timetable will reflect the change to three subjects. It is not possible to drop a fourth subject before the end of Y12.”

Year 12 and Year 13 students have purpose-built private-study facilities, with Year 13 students gaining greater discretion after developing good habits.

“Both Year 12 and Year 13 students have purpose-built private study facilities, which are equipped with ICT workstations. These study sessions are managed by our team of Sixth Form study supervisors - Alex Boughton, Clare Shields and Gill Dean. In Year 13, once good habits have been developed, students have greater discretion in how they use this time.”

Successful applicants receive conditional-offer letters in May, and all offers depend on GCSE results.

“Conditional offer letters will be posted to all successful applicants following their consultation meeting. The letters are posted in May and will be sent to the home address given on the students application form. Please note that all offers of places are dependent on GCSE results.”

A named sixth-form administrator and admissions contact is provided.

“Mrs Crowley - Sixth Form Administrator and Admissions: _cc@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk_”

A large proportion gained places on first-choice university courses, including Oxford and Cambridge; others entered medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry, and a significant proportion secured Russell Group courses.

“There was a great atmosphere on results day with a huge proportion of students being accepted onto their first-choice courses at universities, including some who will be continuing their studies at Oxbridge colleges, such as Sonya Shevchuk whose A\* A\* A\* A will see her studying Psychology at Cambridge, Rex Rocco-Devoy whose A\* A\* A\* A will see him studying Engineering at Oxford, along with Daniel Morgan, whose A\* A\* A and an A\* EPQ will see him read History at Oxford too. Other students will be undertaking courses in medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry, and a significant proportion of the cohort have secured courses at a wide range of Russell Group universities.”

The vast majority of students secured their preferred post-18 destinations.

“Over the past two years, our students have demonstrated fantastic resilience, resolve and academic ability, and we are delighted that this has enabled the vast majority to secure their preferred post-18 destinations.”

OFSTED judged the school outstanding in every inspection category in March 2025.

“further validation came in March 2025, when OFSTED judged us outstanding against each inspection category.”

The 2024 Year 13 cohort achieved 60% A*-B, 82% A*-C and 99% A*-E, while 25 students achieved four A*-A grades.

“The cohort performed admirably, and they should feel incredibly proud of the results they attained: 60% A\*-B, 82% A\*-C and 99% A\*-E. Twenty five students achieved 4 A\*-A grades.”