# Balcarras School — Cheltenham, United Kingdom > School profile on SchoolBrowse, based on verified parent reviews. > HTML version: https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/balcarras-school-12190 ## At a glance - **Type:** Secondary - **Parent rating:** 2.1/5 from 11 published reviews - **Principal:** Dominic Burke ## Contact - **Address:** East End Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - **Phone:** 01242 515 881 - **Website:** http://www.balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk/ - **SchoolBrowse profile:** https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/balcarras-school-12190 ## About Balcarras is a state comprehensive school that aims to provide an outstanding education to all students. We believe in comprehensive and inclusive education and strive to make sure that every student is engaged and inspired by their education. We are proud of our values and commitment to inclusion. ## Official rankings - **Ofsted (Leadership and Management):** Outstanding — May 2014 - **Ofsted (Overall Effectiveness):** Outstanding — May 2014 ## Recent parent reviews - **1/5** — my honest review.: I am currently a student at Balcarras school and i can tell you its shockng. really disapointing. i get handed sactions for something i didnt do they dont solve the bullying well enough either they say "we will lightly have a word with them" or just "stay away" its not a diverse school its very racist. the students here are very peer pressuring lots of kids there who vape and sometimes go on drugs. there food is quite poor often their foods can be bland there education is okay... its not the bes… *(Jul 2024)* - **2/5** — Sorry: I need to be honest.. Balcarras was mediocre; it did NOT live up to the expectations that they said it would. Dont belive their awards & achievements. BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL FAKE!! THIS SCHOOL DOES NOT ACHIEVE AS MUCH AS IT SAYS IT DOES! HORRIBLE TO STUDENTS! - I dreaded going to that school everyday of the 4-5 years i attened. So glad i went to collage & not sixthform. Im convinced a teacher has written the top review on here (the only one you can see without paying. HA!) Thanks for nothing. Glad … *(Jun 2023)* - **5/5** — Superb support: I have been delighted with the progress and start my son has made at Balcarras school. The care from all teachers has been great and the teaching is exceptional. The pastoral care has been superb and I would highly recommend the school to other parents. *(May 2023)* - **1/5** — The truth about balcarras: I am writing to inform future parents wishing to send their children to balcarras the truth about the school. I sent my first daughter to balcarras, with the impression that balcarras was the best public school, but I was wrong. From year 7 until year 11 she suffered with bullying through every school year non stop. The teachers did nothing to prevent the bullying apart from one teacher who tried his hardest but unfortunately left the school and was unsuccessful. She was told to ‘keep her head d… *(Apr 2023)* - **1/5** — It’s called balcatraz for a reason: I was here from 2017 to 2021 and my goodness was this place awful. Teachers with god complexes and favouritism. Pretty much if you suffer from any mental health issues or learning disabilities don’t go here. If you weren’t pretty , popular or loud the teachers didn’t like you. The teachers cared so much about uniforms like i understand you wouldn’t want students looking like they have been dragged through a hedge but come on yelling at them for wearing a little bit of makeup or wearing jewellery… *(Mar 2023)* - **1/5** — Awful pastoral care: Genuinely worst pastoral care I have ever seen. Some amazing teachers here but was ultimately hugely let down. Suffered dreadfully with my mental health from year 8 to year 13 with very little support. They do well statistically but this is only because they put insane amounts of pressure on students, and then fail to pick them up when their mental health undoubtedly takes a hit from it. Favouritism rife here as well. *(Nov 2022)* - **5/5** — Outstanding School!: We've been at Balcarras for a few years now and we're so impressed with the school. The facilities are incredible, the teachers are passionate and the values are spot on. Our child has thrived and is now in year 9, achieving great grades and developing into a confident young person. We couldn't be happier! *(Sep 2022)* - **4/5** — Mixed Feelings: We've been at Balcarras for a year now and while it's a great school, we've noticed a few areas for improvement. The facilities are fantastic and the teachers seem passionate about their subjects, but the school's focus on attendance and behavior can be a bit too rigid at times. Our child is settling in well and enjoying the extra-curricular activities, but we're still getting used to the school's systems and communication. *(Jan 2022)* - **1/5** — Do not go to balcarrad: Please do not send your children to Balcarras. The extra curricular opportunities are practically non-existent, there is one sports team of 10 people in every year for each sport ( only netball, hockey and rugby) which are picked in year seven if you do not make this team in year seven there is no other opportunity to make it, music clubs are practically non-existent the orchestra has around 10 people in it and other music or sporting opportunities promised at open evening simply do not exist. B… *(Sep 2021)* - **5/5** — Amazing School!: We moved to Cheltenham a few years ago and were lucky enough to have our children attend Balcarras. The school's commitment to comprehensive education and inclusion is truly inspiring. The extra-curricular programs are fantastic and the teachers go above and beyond to support the students. We're so grateful to have had the experience. *(Jun 2021)* ## Other schools in Cheltenham - [Ashley Manor Preparatory School](https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/ashley-manor-preparatory-school-11219) — 1.7/5 (23 reviews) - [Pate's Grammar School](https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/pates-grammar-school-12101) — 3.4/5 (18 reviews) - [The Catholic School of Saint Gregory the Great](https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/the-catholic-school-of-saint-gregory-the-great-23256) — 2.7/5 (11 reviews) - [Cheltenham Bournside School and Sixth Form Centre](https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/cheltenham-bournside-school-and-sixth-form-centre-12392) — 1.5/5 (11 reviews) - [All Saints' Academy, Cheltenham](https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/all-saints-academy-cheltenham-11893) — 1.8/5 (9 reviews) - [Pittville School](https://schoolbrowse.com/gb/cheltenham/pittville-school-6198) — 2.1/5 (6 reviews) --- Source: SchoolBrowse (https://schoolbrowse.com) — reviews and ratings are user-submitted by parents. 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