Dr Challoner's High School
Amersham, HP7 9QB · Buckinghamshire · Grammar school
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3rd 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 125 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 9.4/10 among them, against 9.9/10 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 100.0 · 100 | 30% | 2.99 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 1.11 · 99 | 25% | 2.47 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 76.2 · 99 | 10% | 0.99 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Dr Challoner's High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 99.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 79.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +1.11 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 9.2 out of 10 among them, against 9.9 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in January 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Engineering, Medics, Literacy, Law, Debating, Feminist, Formula One, and Puzzle Clubs. Sports include badminton, netball, swimming, athletics, and yoga. Arts and music options feature Con Brio, Swing Band, LAMDA Classes, and drama productions. Trips include the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, World Challenge Expedition, and a 3-day Team Building Residential.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,391 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,145. 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 Dr Challoner's High School
Overview
The report describes an “extraordinary education” where pupils are “unwaveringly encouraging and supportive of each other.” It highlights a culture where academic ambition, character development, and cultural capital are of “equal importance,” resulting in pupils who “delight in scholarship” and achieve exceptionally well.
Strengths
- Teaching is “highly effective,” with teachers using detailed knowledge of pupils to plan lessons that meet individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Pupils’ behaviour is “unfailingly positive,” fostering a “vibrant atmosphere” where students take pride in seeing others succeed and support one another.
- The sixth form is “exceptional,” with students acting as “proud role models” who provide guidance, lead clubs, and coach younger pupils.
- Personal development is embedded across school life, with opportunities such as trips abroad and visits from experts broadening pupils’ “cultural awareness.”
- Outcomes for pupils at both GCSE and A level are “among the highest in the country.”
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
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 | 78.2 |
| 2024/25 | 79.1 |
| 2025/26 | 76.2 |
| 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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