The Highcrest Academy
High Wycombe, HP13 7NQ · Buckinghamshire · secondary school
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29th 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 4.8/10 against 587 of them, against 3.3/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 42.5 · 44 | 30% | 1.30 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.39 · 21 | 25% | 0.53 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 42.0 · 29 | 10% | 0.29 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Highcrest Academy overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in January 2025. In 2024/25, 27.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.39 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join clubs for cricket, athletics, football, netball, rugby, badminton, basketball, and handball. A breakfast club is also available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,045 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,069. 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 does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the breakfast club integrate with the wider pastoral care for secondary students?
What Ofsted said about The Highcrest Academy
Overview
This ungraded inspection found that aspects of the school’s work “may not be as strong as at the time of the previous inspection,” triggering a future graded inspection. Despite this, the school remains a “kind, happy and welcoming” environment where pupils are respectful and staff provide high-quality pastoral care.
Strengths
- Pupils receive “high-quality, inclusive pastoral care” and value the “support and empathy shown by staff.”
- The school offers a “sharp focus on pupils’ personal development” through clubs, trips, and leadership roles.
- SEND provision is “very effective,” with bespoke programmes helping most pupils access the same curriculum as peers.
- Careers education is “strong,” supported by a wide variety of employers to help pupils make “well-informed choices.”
- Trustees provide “effective support and challenge” while maintaining “robust oversight of safeguarding.”
Areas to improve
- The reading strategy is not fully embedded, meaning some pupils do not catch up with peers quickly enough.
- Checks on pupils’ learning are inconsistent, preventing some from achieving the standards required for strong examination outcomes.
- Teaching approaches are not yet systematically matched to pupil needs, and quality assurance processes lack consistency.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.9 |
| 2024/25 | 38.5 |
| 2025/26 | 42.0 |
| 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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