The Cottesloe School
Aylesbury, LU7 0NY · Buckinghamshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
27th of 36 secondary schools in Buckinghamshire we can score, 37 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 834 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.6/10 among them, against 5.4/10 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 | 18 | 35% | 0.63 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 45.1 · 50 | 30% | 1.50 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.11 · 58 | 25% | 1.44 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.9 · 55 | 10% | 0.55 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Cottesloe School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 44.1% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.11 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better 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 3.1 out of 10 among them, against 5.3 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join STEAM, Chess, Rubix Cube, Book, Creative Writing, Udeskole, Christian Union, and Warhammer School Alliance Gaming Clubs. Sports include Ultimate Frisbee, Rounders, Trampolining, Basketball, Tennis, Athletics, and Cricket. Arts and music options cover Art, Bandjam, Drama, Inspire Choir, and IGNITE. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,190 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,105. 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
How many places are there in the entry year, and how many families applied last year?
What Ofsted said about The Cottesloe School
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils feel a strong sense of pride and belonging, noting that for many, it "feels like a family". Leaders have established a culture based on mutual respect, resulting in a calm environment where bullying is rare and pupils feel safe. The school meets the expected standard across most areas, with personal development and wellbeing rated at a strong standard.
Strengths
- Leaders have developed a "comprehensive personal development programme" that helps pupils grow into "responsible, resilient and respectful young people".
- Pupils develop "mature attitudes about consent" and a rich understanding of personal safety, including online risks.
- There is "highly effective pastoral care" with staff who know pupils well and are trained to identify those needing additional help.
- The sixth form offers an "inclusive and supportive environment" with "highly effective" teaching and engaging lessons.
- Pupils benefit from an "extensive extra-curricular offer" and value the sense of belonging these activities bring.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure teaching strategies, including checks on pupils' learning, are "fully embedded across subjects and used with precision".
- Teachers need to better use assessment data to adapt learning, as sometimes "misconceptions are not addressed before pupils move on".
- There is currently "less precision in identifying the specific barriers pupils face in mathematical knowledge".
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.6 |
| 2024/25 | 45.4 |
| 2025/26 | 46.9 |
| 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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