The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School
Hereford, HR1 1UU · Herefordshire, County of · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 15 secondary schools in Herefordshire, County of we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 770 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.8/10 among them, against 4.5/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 10 | 35% | 0.34 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 44.7 · 49 | 30% | 1.48 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.17 · 37 | 25% | 0.93 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.3 · 52 | 10% | 0.52 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 46.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.17 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.8 out of 10 among them, against 4.9 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,089 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,130. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
With a Progress 8 score of -0.17, how does the school support pupils to improve their progress from their starting point? Since the Ofsted inspection in February 2026 uses a new framework without an overall grade, which specific areas received the highest grades? How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll of 1089?
What Ofsted said about The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School
Overview
The report describes a school where new leaders have driven significant improvements in attendance and curriculum ambition, though many initiatives are too new to show full impact. While pupils generally achieve well and feel safe, inconsistencies in teaching quality and support for vulnerable learners remain, particularly in key stage 3.
Strengths
- Attendance has improved significantly to national averages, with effective strategies targeting vulnerable pupils.
- Disadvantaged pupils achieve better than their peers nationally in recent tests.
- Pupils flourish in subjects such as science and health studies.
- A comprehensive personal development programme fosters respect, tolerance, and wellbeing.
- The school provides a calm, nurturing environment with high expectations for conduct.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must accurately identify knowledge gaps and adapt teaching to meet individual needs, especially in key stage 3.
- Staff need consistent expertise to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities in lessons.
- Leaders and governors should robustly evaluate improvement actions using accurate information.
- Communication with parents regarding changes to processes and expectations requires improvement.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, ensuring pupils feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.0 |
| 2024/25 | 45.9 |
| 2025/26 | 46.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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