Schools by area › Oxfordshire › The Cherwell School
The Cherwell School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Marston Ferry Road, Oxford OX2 7EE · cherwell.oxon.sch.uk · 01865 558719
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected Oct 2022
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 58.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Oxfordshire 46.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 2,023
- 173 over 1,850 places · 109%
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 17.2%
- First language not English
- 23%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- River Learning Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 396 families put the school first and 243 places were offered; 61% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 243 | 396 | 1.6▲ | 61% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 255 | 360 | 1.4▲ | 71% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 273 | 344 | 1.3▲ | 79% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 256 | 389 | 1.5▲ | 65% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 259 | 364 | 1.4▲ | 71% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 58.3, and 66.2% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Oxfordshire it was 46.4, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B (40.3 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲58.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲66.2% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲79.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲50.9% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲5.32 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 64.8 | −7 |
| Further education | 24.3 | +5 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.8 | — |
| Employment | 2.1 | +1.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 2.8 | −0.4 |
| Activity not captured | 3.2 | +1.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 312 students | B (40.3) | Above average +0.20 | |
| 313 students | B (40.1) | Above average +0.14 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 298 | B- (37.3) | -0.04 |
| 2022/23 | 278 | B- (36.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 341 | B+ (43.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 291 | B- (37.5) | +0.03 |
| 2017/18 | 258 | B- (36.8) | +0.01 |
| 2016/17 | 272 | B- (37.8) | +0.10 |
| 2015/16 | 284 | B- (36.7) | +0.09 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 41.5 | −4.1 |
| Further education | 3.4 | −2.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.9 | +0.8 |
| Employment | 35.3 | +9.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 13.3 | −2.5 |
| Activity not captured | 4.6 | −0.9 |
Ofsted
The Cherwell School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 19 October 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 19 Oct 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jan 2008
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2008Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding
What parents said
92% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (387 replies, to 4 September 2023).
- Recommend
- 92%
- Replies
- 387
- 19% · 4 Sept 2023
based on the 73% who raised concerns
based on the 35% who had a child bullied
based on 97 parents (25%) with SEND