Head of Maths Faculty

Hanley Castle High School is one of the oldest in England.  The exact date of the foundation is not known, but there is evidence that a Chantry School was established in the vicinity as early as 1326.  At the time of the Reformation, Hanley re-emerged as a grammar school.  Its oldest buildings can be traced to the reign of Henry VIII. 

The school’s accommodation has evolved over many centuries and is a unique blend of the old and the new.  A village within a village, it is situated in an idyllic rural location, but with easy access to Worcester, Hereford, Cheltenham, and Gloucester.  

Hanley Castle became an academy in 2011 and converted to a MAT, The Hanley and Upton Educational Trust (HUET) in 2017.  

The success and popularity of Hanley Castle has meant significant expansion over the last ten years.  In September 2022 the school will have grown from 880 to around 1,100 students, including 220 sixth form students housed in a spectacular modern sixth form centre. 

The school is committed to inclusion, welcoming students of all abilities and aptitudes from a large rural catchment and over 35 primary schools in the towns of Upton and Malvern, the surrounding villages, and the city of Worcester. 

The school’s exam outcomes are excellent, both at GCSE and at A level.  Around 30% of GCSE passes are awarded at grades 7, 8 or 9, with 90% of students achieving good passes in English and the proportion of students achieving the English Baccalaureate around twice the national average. Our A level candidates also routinely achieve outstanding results, predominantly in the facilitating and academic subjects, but performance in applied courses is outstanding. 

The school prides itself on the success of its students in gaining places at top universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Bristol, Bath, Warwick, and Exeter. 

However, the success of Hanley Castle is not just based on exam results. The school was delighted to be named ‘Secondary School of the Year’ in the Worcestershire Education Awards in 2018, while our ‘International School Award’ has been renewed for a further three years.  The school also offers wonderful provision in music and drama (including its legendary school productions), as well as enjoying a strong reputation in sport, volunteering and student leadership. 

Our most recent Ofsted inspection took place in May 2017.  The school maintained its good rating and the report included a great deal of praise for the school and its students, including: 

• The school is passionate about success for every child. 
• The level of care provided for each pupil is remarkable. 
• Being successful at Hanley Castle is not just about academic success. There is a wealth of enrichment activities, including international exchange visits, music, drama, and sporting opportunities. 
• Teaching is engaging and motivating. 
• Pupils enjoy their lessons and believe their teachers expect them to work hard and do their best. 
• The sixth form continues to be a real strength of the school with excellent results in academic and vocational courses, increasing numbers, a wide-reaching enrichment programme and very successful progression for students into work, training, or university. 
• Pupils feel safe in school. They are keen to learn and behave well in lessons and around the school. 
• Pupils are polite, respectful, and welcoming to visitors. They work well together, support each other and are proud of their school. 

View Hanley Castle High School’s latest Ofsted report