Christ's College, Guildford

In 2024-25, 36.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 45.3% in England. At grade 4 or above the figure was 55% (England 65%), and Attainment 8 was 42.5 (England 46.3). Results have been uneven: 29% in 2022-23, 44.4% in 2023-24, then 36.4%. Progress 8 was -0.47 in 2022-23 and 0.01 in 2023-24, close to the national average, but it is not published for 2024-25.

What Ofsted found

The latest inspection took place on 4 and 5 October 2022, and the report judged the school Good overall and in every area, up from Requires improvement. Inspectors described a school "transformed by its current senior leaders", with an ambitious curriculum, strong teamwork and much improved provision for pupils with SEND. They found calm classrooms and said "deliberate unkindness or bullying is rare".

The report was also clear about what still needed work. In a few classes, pupils were "not building their knowledge and understanding as well as they should", because teachers' checks on what pupils know were not yet consistent. Teaching of PSHE varied between teachers, and a small minority of parents felt their concerns had not been heard.

The report is now nearly four years old. The school's website names a different headteacher from the principal listed in the report and says a new leadership team is in place. It also says 2025 results showed progress from pupils' starting points, which cannot be checked without published Progress 8 data.

How it compares nearby

Among the nearest similar schools, Kings College Guildford (1.4 mi, 41.8%) and Hoe Valley School (3.0 mi, 42.9%) have GCSE English and maths 5+ figures closest to Christ's College's 36.4%. George Abbot School (1.4 mi, Ofsted Good, 68.9%), Guildford County School (1.5 mi, 64.6%) and St Peter's Catholic School (2.0 mi, Ofsted Outstanding, 76.9%) report considerably higher results. These are headline figures only and do not account for differences in intake.

Who it may suit

Christ's College may suit families looking for a smaller Church of England secondary where, according to inspectors, pupils are known as individuals and pupils with SEND are well supported. Families for whom headline GCSE results matter most will want to look closely at the trend and ask the school about progress data, how it has built on the 2022 report, and what has changed under the new leadership. Plans for post-16 study will need to be made elsewhere.

May suit: Families wanting a smaller, caring Church of England secondary with a broad curriculum and strong SEND support, who are comfortable that results are still catching up.

Drafted with the help of AI tools from our research notes and the sources above, then checked and edited by EduNavigate Research Team before publishing.