Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School

Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School remains a good school following its recent ungraded inspection. There is evidence suggesting that the school may perform at an outstanding level if a graded inspection were conducted. The school is known for its inclusive environment, high standards, and strong student-teacher relationships, which creates a supportive atmosphere for learning. Pupils appreciate the variety of subjects offered in the curriculum, including tailored support for students with special educational needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on preparing students for their future careers.

Strengths

• Exceptional relationships between pupils and teachers.
• Inclusive environment that supports all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Well-designed and aspirational curriculum.
• Strong careers guidance and extracurricular activities.
• High levels of pupil engagement and enthusiasm for learning.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 9.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.9% of pupils at Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School had 16.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 16.1% of pupils at Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School received £7,309 and spent £7,757 for each of its 894 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £385,000 (£431 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Basingstoke · Hampshire local authority: places and applications

What is Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School have?

Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School has 894 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School cover?

Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 58.1, and 63% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School?

Bishop Challoner Catholic Secondary School is at St Michael's Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 6SR.