The Chantry School

Since September 2024, Nicola Clear BA PGDip NPQSL, previously deputy head for 10 years. Grew up in Greater Manchester where she attended her local comp, then Ashton Sixth Form College before studying English and Italian literature at Warwick.

Academically non-selective, with nearly 240 applications for the 180 places split across six forms. Children come from a large catchment incorporating rural west Worcestershire (mainly Abberley, Astley, Broadheath, Broadwas, Clifton upon Teme, Great

At 16+, mainly to sixth form colleges including Worcester and Hereford, plus school sixth forms including Chris Whitehead and King Edward’s. Significant numbers to Hartpury College. Some straight into apprenticeships.

In 2024, 23 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 52 per cent 9-5 in both English and maths.

Brilliant on oracy – we saw pupils giving presentations, planning in pairs, asking infinite questions and finessing their debating skills (including some insightful views on ‘what is forgiveness?’ in an RE class). ‘Talking for writing’ is term you

The 12 per cent of pupils on the SEN register (and 25 EHCPs) are supported by a SENCo, assistant SENCo and 13 TAs (including a communications professional) who we saw working the classrooms. Dyslexia is the biggest need, but there’s also autism, ADHD

DofE bronze is 100-strong, and clubs are valued – drama, music, art, sport, baking, crafts, cheerleading, board games etc. Most run after school, a few at lunchtimes. Friday tutor time – known as Fun Friday – is also popular, involving activities

Principally rugby, football, netball and athletics but there’s more besides, with pupils doing cross-country on the day we visited, and we also saw dancing (in the dance studio) and badminton (in the large spots hall, to the sounds of Taylor Swift,

One of the best things about the school, say parents. We saw several examples of more vulnerable pupils being treated with care and compassion – one boy who was worried about coming into school was scooped up by a kindly teacher, another confided in

Local estate agents are pleased as punch when homes within catchment come on the market – most get snapped up by parents desperate to get their children into the school. They are mainly middle-class working families, with 15 per cent of children on

Works hard to get the best out of pupils academically, while offering a lot of enjoyment along the way – and it all takes place in a stunning rural setting. Great to see so many pupils take advantage of the activities beyond the classroom too. ‘A bit