Gloucestershire: how secondary school cut-offs moved in 2026
Last distance offered, Year 7, National Offer Day 2025 compared with 2026 · Catchmently analysis of council figures
Gloucestershire had 11 clearly oversubscribed secondary schools with a single published last distance offered in both 2025 and 2026. On National Offer Day 2026, 6 had a shorter distance than the year before and 4 a longer one. Only 4 of the 11 stayed within 10% of the previous year's figure.
In 2026, 86.8% of secondary applicants were offered their first preference (England 83.6%; 64th highest of 152 councils). In 2026, 91.6% of primary applicants were offered their first preference (England 92.4%; 57th lowest of 152 councils).
School by school
How each school's last distance offered changed between 2025 and 2026, and how many families who put it first were not offered a place in 2026 (Department for Education).
| School | Change, 2025 to 2026 | First choices not offered, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Balcarras School Cheltenham | −91% shorter | 64 |
| Cleeve School Cheltenham | −54% shorter | 26 |
| Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre Cheltenham | −25% shorter | 40 |
| The Cotswold Academy Cheltenham | −22% shorter | 43 |
| Chipping Campden School Chipping Campden | −19% shorter | 46 |
| Severn Vale School Gloucester | −2% shorter | 20 |
| Holmleigh Park High School Gloucester | about the same | 17 |
| Thomas Keble School Stroud | +2% longer | 47 |
| Chosen Hill School Gloucester | +4% longer | 35 |
| Churchdown School Gloucester | +20% longer | 65 |
| The High School Leckhampton Cheltenham | +54% longer | 79 |
The biggest moves, as published
- Balcarras School: 13.52 miles in 2025, 1.25 miles in 2026 (−91%). Council source
- The High School Leckhampton: 0.78 miles in 2025, 1.20 miles in 2026 (+54%). Council source
Year-by-year distances for every school in Gloucestershire are in the pass, each with its source and offer date.
Reception (primary)
Clearly oversubscribed primary schools in Gloucestershire with a single published last distance offered in both years:
| School | Change, 2025 to 2026 | First choices not offered, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Christ Church CofE Primary School Cheltenham | −30% shorter | 31 |
| Grangefield Primary School Cheltenham | −17% shorter | 26 |
Open Gloucestershire on the map Schools in Gloucestershire
Before you apply
A school's last distance offered depends on how many children apply, how many siblings take places first, which priority group the last place fell in and how the council measures distance. Look at three or more years, read each school's admission rules and use every preference. Secondary applications close on 31 October 2026. Read how to read a last distance offered or the national picture.
Check the schools near you
Catchmently maps every school in England with its Ofsted report, results and the admissions figures councils publish, each linked to its source. Searching is free. The one-off 3-month pass shows each school's last distance offered year by year.
Method and sources
- "Clearly oversubscribed" means at least 10 first-preference applicants were not offered a place in both 2025 and 2026. Selective schools and schools with banded or multi-row figures are left out, so not every Gloucestershire school appears here.
- Distances are compared as published by the council, in its own unit and way of measuring. A last distance offered is not a catchment area and does not show any family's chance of a place. Some large swings reflect which priority group the last place fell in, catchment changes or added places rather than demand.
- Council publications: gloucestershire.gov.uk: secondary allocation day 2026 · gloucestershire.gov.uk: reception allocation day 2026. Applications and offers: Department for Education (OGL v3.0).