Ofsted: Needs attention trending_up Places Available emoji_events #8 in Herefordshire, County of public Top 31% UK

The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

person Mr Thomas Williams (Headteacher)

location_onHereford, HR1 1UU

language Visit Website phone 01432347501

verified

Ofsted

Needs attention

Inspected 2026

groups

Students

1,044

trending_up

Attainment 8

46.3

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#8 in Herefordshire, County of

#1,784 of 4,024 nationally

summarize

The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Hereford, serving ages 11-16. Assessed as Needs Attention in curriculum and teaching on its latest Ofsted Report Card.

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School Summary

The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School is a voluntary aided school in Hereford, Herefordshire, County of, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 1,089 pupils on roll, of whom 16% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2026, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.3, placing the school #8 in Herefordshire, County of and #1,784 of 4,024 nationally. 44.70% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 20.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2026. The school's current overall rating is Needs attention. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Needs attention, behaviour and attitudes Expected standard, personal development Expected standard, and leadership and management Needs attention.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 2.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2026

Attainment 8 Score

46.3

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

44.70%

Grade 4+ E&M

64.60%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)20.0%

5+ GCSEs (4+ incl. E&M)59.70%

Triple Science Entry12.10%

EBacc Slot Score13.8 / 30

2025

Attainment 8 Score

45.9

across 8 GCSE slots

Grade 5+ E&M

46.80%

Grade 4+ E&M

68.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.0%

Entering EBacc30.00%

EBacc APS4.05

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

45.10%

Entering EBacc24.40%

EBacc APS3.81

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.54

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20%

EBacc APS3.82

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21%

EBacc APS4.04

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.27

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46%

EBacc APS4.24

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc48%

EBacc APS4.19

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2026

Stayed in Education / Employment

89.6%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83.9%

Apprenticeships3.6%

Employment2.1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6.7%

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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Ranking History & Trajectory

National & Local Authority position based on DfE performance data · Methodology

Year	Secondary Overall (Nat)	LA Rank	GCSE Attainment	Progress 8 Rank
2026	#1,919 / 4,024	#8	#1,784	#1
2025	#1,338 / 3,948	#5	#1,812	#1
2024	#1,650 / 4,450	#6	#2,144	#1,970
2023	#1,933 / 4,321	#8	#1,982	#2,652
2022	#1,550 / 4,199	#6	#1,826	#1,940
2019	#1,644 / 2,711	#8	#1,348	#2,053
2018	#1,528 / 2,537	#11	#1,349	#1,783

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 February 2026

Inspection Report

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07 July 2021

Inspection Report

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18 March 2021

Inspection Report

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01 May 2019

Inspection Report

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21 February 2017

Inspection Report

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12 September 2012

Inspection Report

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22 March 2011

Inspection Report

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09 October 2008

Inspection Report

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07 December 2005

Inspection Report

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04 December 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2026-02-10

S5 Inspection REIF Report Card

Report Card

info

Why no single overall grade?

From autumn 2024 / 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word headline grades (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate) with individual area judgements on a Report Card.

Curriculum & Teaching

Needs attention

Achievement

Expected standard

Attendance & Behaviour

Expected standard

Personal Development

Expected standard

Inclusion

Needs attention

Leadership & Governance

Needs attention

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2021-07-07

Requires Improvement monitoring Visit 1 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2019-05-01

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

verified_user Safeguarding: Met

2017-02-21

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-09-12

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

2.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.0%(22 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,091 pupils. During this period, there were 30 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 2.7%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,091	30	2.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,095	25	2.3%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,076	51	4.7%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,078	29	2.7%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,078	38	3.5%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,050	31	3.0%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,044	23	2.2%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,046	26	2.5%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	988	24	2.4%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	979	21	2.1%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	975	27	2.8%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	995	18	1.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	991	8	0.8%	1.0%	2
2020/21 (Autumn term)	995	34	3.4%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,026	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,026	32	3.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,030	31	3.0%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,049	9	0.9%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,055	8	0.8%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,063	33	3.1%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,062	26	2.4%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,068	16	1.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,073	14	1.3%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,097	21	1.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,104	18	1.6%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,092	21	1.9%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 70 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 32 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 21 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 12 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

Overall, how do parents view this school?

59%Positive

My child is happy at this school.

66%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

73%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

strongly agree10%

agree22%

disagree30%

strongly disagree21%

not applicable74%

Neither agree nor disagree16%

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree28%

agree39%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know1%

Neither agree nor disagree16%

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

strongly agree24%

agree26%

Neither agree nor disagree17%

disagree15%

strongly disagree17%

Don't know1%

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

strongly agree25%

agree35%

Neither agree nor disagree9%

disagree14%

strongly disagree16%

Don't know1%

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

strongly agree28%

agree32%

disagree15%

strongly disagree13%

Neither agree nor disagree12%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

strongly agree22%

agree28%

disagree17%

strongly disagree14%

not applicable9%

Neither agree nor disagree9%

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

yes29%

no71%

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree16%

agree25%

disagree14%

strongly disagree37%

Neither agree nor disagree8%

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

yes69%

no31%

Top Secondary Schools in Herefordshire, County of

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Outstanding

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The Steiner Academy Hereford

Good

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emoji_events #4 in LA

John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy

Requires improvement

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emoji_events #5 in LA

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Good

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emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Herefordshire, County of arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ranking History & Trajectory

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Overall, how do parents view this school?

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

When bullying took place, the school dealt with it quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart.

The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well.

The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly.

Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)?

My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Herefordshire, County of

Whitecross Hereford

Fairfield High School

St Mary's RC High School

The Steiner Academy Hereford

John Kyrle High School and Sixth Form Centre Academy

Wigmore School