Two Cheltenham secondary schools have been recognised as the very best in the south west in a prestigious national schools guide.
The title of ‘South West Independent Secondary School of the Decade’ has been awarded to Cheltenham Ladies’ College, with ‘South West State Secondary School of the Decade’ being awarded to Balcarras in The Sunday Times’ Parent Power Schools Guide 2021.
Published on Sunday 29 November 2020, the guide commends schools that have achieved academic excellence and provided an outstanding education for the last decade.
And, this year, as well as publishing the 2019 examinations results, Parent Power has selected 26 ‘Schools of the Decade’ from all corners of the country in recognition of their sustained excellence – with two Cheltenham schools scooping the top Independent and State School positions in the south west.
Over the past ten years, the academic results at Cheltenham Ladies’ College have been consistently outstanding, with 72 per cent of pupils achieving A*/A grades at A Level and 92 per cent of International Baccalaureate (IB) results awarded 7/6 points. Over this ten-year period, over two-thirds (67 per cent) of GCSE results have been awarded an A*/9/8 grades.
Alastair McCall, editor of Parent Power, said: ‘The reputation of Cheltenham Ladies’ College as one of the country’s leading girls’ independent schools is richly deserved. Academic results are outstanding: the school has been the top performer in the south west for all of the past decade – and for much longer. Girls are encouraged to achieve their best without being hot-housed under the caring and empathetic leadership of Eve Jardine-Young.’
Principal Eve Jardine-Young said: ‘I speak for the whole College community in expressing our collective pride for this recognition. It has been a joy to lead the school since 2011, and I would like to pay tribute to all those who have provided initiative and momentum for change and development, as well as those who have helped us to sustain excellence.’
Referring to Balcarras Alastair McCall said:‘It is not easy to be a successful state comprehensive school when competing in a town with an outstanding grammar school and excellent independent school alternatives. That Balcarras succeeds in its mission – and does so with such aplomb – is a credit to the hardworking children, committed and inspirational teachers and supportive parents.’
Headteacher of Balcarras, Dominic Burke, added: ‘Balcarras has achieved superb results by any measure and at every level over this last decade. We are proud to be a comprehensive school, where children of all abilities are encouraged to aim high and strive for the very best, and in a region that still has so many selective schools, I’m pleased that a comprehensive has scooped the top award.’
The top 2,000 schools in Britain have been featured in Parent Power, which is published in The Sunday Times over two weekends: primary and prep schools on Sunday 22 November 2020, followed by state and independent secondary schools on Sunday 29 November 2020.
For more information about Cheltenham Ladies’ College see Cheltenham Ladies' College, or visit cheltladiescollege.org.
For more information about Balcarras visit balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk.
