John Hampden Grammar School

John Hampden Grammar School has been evaluated as outstanding in all areas of inspection, reflecting its strong performance across the board since its last inspection in May 2008. The school fosters a motivational culture centered around the ethos '#BeMore', encouraging pupils and staff to embrace ambition, confidence, and kindness. The exceptional behavior and positive attitudes displayed by pupils contribute to a safe and respectful environment where everyone can thrive academically and personally.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious curriculum designed for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Exceptional behavior and exemplary character of pupils.
• A strong focus on personal development alongside academic achievement.
• Effective leadership with high expectations and targeted support for all students.
• Extensive range of extra-curricular opportunities that promote leadership skills.

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 John Hampden Grammar School attended 94.3% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 23.0% 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, 1.2% of pupils at John Hampden Grammar 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 John Hampden Grammar School had 19.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.6% 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, 1.0% of pupils at John Hampden Grammar School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.0% 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 2024–25 John Hampden Grammar School received £7,012 and spent £6,769 for each of its 1,271 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,093,000 (£1,647 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in High Wycombe · Buckinghamshire local authority: places and applications

What is John Hampden Grammar School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for John Hampden Grammar School is Outstanding, from an inspection in October 2022.

When was John Hampden Grammar School last inspected by Ofsted?

John Hampden Grammar School was last inspected in October 2022.

How many pupils does John Hampden Grammar School have?

John Hampden Grammar School has 1,281 pupils on roll.

What age range does John Hampden Grammar School cover?

John Hampden Grammar School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are John Hampden Grammar School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 73.1, and 96% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is John Hampden Grammar School?

John Hampden Grammar School is at Marlow Hill, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1SZ.