Cotswold School is an 11 to 18

academy school An academy school in England is a state-funded school which is directly funded by the Department for Education and independent of local authority control. The terms of the arrangements are set out in individual Academy Funding Agreements. 80% ...

located in

Bourton-on-the-Water Bourton-on-the-Water is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England, that lies on a wide flat vale within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village had a population of 3,296 at the 2011 census. Much of the village ...

, Gloucestershire, Great Britain. The school achieved academy status in September 2010. The principal from 2012 is Mr Will Morgan. In 2023, the school had 1430 students (with approximately 290 of those students in the sixth form). In November 2022, The Cotswold School was named ''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...

'' Southwest Comprehensive School of the Year 2023, ranked by their examination results from 2021/2022.

History

The Cotswold School opened in 1988 following the amalgamation of Bourton Vale Secondary Modern (in Bourton on the Water) and Westwood's Grammar School (Northleach). The first head teacher was Mr Sanders and first chair of governors was Mavis, Viscountess Dunrossil. The roll was just over 400 students and 35 staff. Former head teachers were Mr Sanders (September 1988 – August 1995) and Mrs Holland (September 1995 – December 2011).

Today

The school roll in March 2025 stands at 1506 students and 140 staff. The last 30 years have seen an extensive programme of building. In the last 5 years, a new Sixth Form study suite and common room have been built; refurbished and newly equipped science laboratories; a gymnasium extension to the sports hall; and a 2 storey, 10 classroom English block with communal learning space, study rooms and department office, which was opened in 2020. The school gained specialisms for languages (2002) and science (2006) as part of the now defunct specialist schools programme. The extension to the sixth form and science blocks was opened by

Nigel Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies (born 16 May 1957, Crickhowell) is a British racehorse trainer specialising in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Naunton, Gloucestershire. He began training in 1981 and sent out his first winner, Last of the Fo ...

in April 2009. The new £1.5 million sports hall, with changing rooms and a community room alongside, first opened in November 2009; it was opened by the former England cricket captain

Mike Gatting Michael William Gatting (born 6 June 1957) is an English former cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Middlesex (1975–1998; captain 1983–1997) and for England from 1977 to 1995, captaining the national side in twenty-three Test ma ...

in July 2010. The mathematics block was opened by Geoffrey Clinton-brown and Mavis, Viscountess Dunrossil as part of the school's 25th anniversary celebrations during the academic year 2013/2014. The Sixth Form study suite was opened by

Adam Henson Adam John Lincoln Henson (born 8 January 1966) is an English farmer, author and television presenter. Early career Born on the farm he now works, Bemborough Farm near Guiting Power, Gloucestershire, he was educated at Cheltenham College and la ...

Henson in March 2018. The English block was opened by Emma and

Simon Keswick Simon Lindley Keswick FRSA (born 20 May 1942) is a Scottish businessman and the younger brother of Sir Chips Keswick and Sir Henry Keswick. Early life and education Part of the Keswick family business dynasty, he is the son of Sir Will ...

November 2022. During the building of the extensions, it was discovered that the school is situated on a Roman cemetery which was found to also contain Iron Age graves.

Ofsted reports and accolades

In March 2025, Ofsted judged The Cotswold School 'Outstanding' across all categories. This was the fifth consecutive 'Outstanding' inspection carried out at the school. * An ‘Outstanding’ 11–18 School, Ofsted 2002, 2006, 2009, 2015 and 2025. * National Teaching School, designated by the National College of Teaching and Leadership 2016. * The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2023 Southwest Comprehensive of the Year.

Alumni

Westwood's Grammar School

Harriet Green Harriet Green (born 12 December 1961) is a British businesswoman, who was chairman and CEO of IBM Asia Pacific, and previously led three IBM business divisions: the Internet of things, customer engagement and education businesses. She was CEO ...

OBE, chief executive from 2012 to 2014 of

Thomas Cook Group Thomas Cook Group plc was a global travel group, headquartered in the United Kingdom and listed on the London Stock Exchange from its formation on 19 June 2007 by the merger of Thomas Cook AG — successor to Thomas Cook & Son — and ...

Wilf Paish Wilfred Henry Charles Paish MBE (29 July 1932 – 29 January 2010) was a British athletics coach. He helped train athletes such as Olympic champion Tessa Sanderson, Mick Hill and Peter Elliott. Paish was chief coach for South Africa at the ...

MBE, athletics coach

The Cotswold School

Alice Powell Alice Elizabeth Fraser Powell (born 26 January 1993) is a British people, British auto racing, racing driver. In 2010, she became the first woman to win a Formula Renault championship and in 2012 became the first woman to score points in the GP ...

, racing driver *

Sam Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies (born 15 October 1992) is a British National Hunt racing jockey who has multiple Grade 1 and Cheltenham Festival wins to his name. Background Twiston-Davies comes from a racing background. His father is trainer Nigel Twiston-D ...

, jockey *

Kieran Shoemark Kieran Shoemark (born January 1996) is an English jockey who competes in flat racing and has won a number of Group 1 races. Early life Shoemark was born in Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire and grew up in a family steeped in racing. His old ...

, jockey

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cotswold School Secondary schools in Gloucestershire Educational institutions established in 1988 1988 establishments in England Cotswold District Academies in Gloucestershire