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The Bicester School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy

Queen's Avenue, Bicester OX26 2NS · thebicesterschool.org.uk · 01869 243331

On the mapSearch near OX26 2NS

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Mar 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
47.9
average Attainment 8 score. Oxfordshire 46.4, England 46
Demand for places
0.8
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,176
82% of 1,430 places
Local authority
Oxfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
17.7%
First language not English
14.6%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Activate Learning Education Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 184 families put the school first and 233 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 151 (Places 203)151September 2023: 165 (Places 209)165September 2024: 141 (Places 174)141September 2025: 168 (Places 176)168September 2026: 184 (Places 233)184Places 233
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262331840.8100%
September 2025Sept 20251761681100%
September 2024Sept 20241741410.8100%
September 2023Sept 20232091650.8100%
September 2022Sept 20222031510.7100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.9, and 49% 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 C (30.3 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 43.0 (England 46.3)43.02017/18: 46.6 (England 46.5)46.62018/19: 44.1 (England 46.7)44.12021/22: 46.3 (England 48.8)46.32022/23: 41.2 (England 46.3)41.22023/24: 45.4 (England 45.9)45.42024/25: 47.9 (England 46.0)47.9England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
●47.946.0
▲49.0%45.4%
●65.2%64.8%
▲44.6%40.5%
▲4.374.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form43.2+5.2
Further education41.7−2.6
Other education0.4−0.5
Apprenticeship2.3−2.2
Employment4.5−2.7
Not in a lasting destination5.7+3.4
Activity not captured2.3−0.4

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 25.6 (England 30.5)C-2016/17: 22.7 (England 31.1)D+2017/18: 20.7 (England 32.1)D2018/19: 23.0 (England 32.9)D+2021/22: 34.9 (England 37.9)C+2022/23: 36.5 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 33.0 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 30.3 (England 35.0)CEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
60 studentsC (30.3)Below average -0.46
60 studentsC (30.2)Below average -0.47
32 studentsMerit+ (28.2)Average -0.13
9.8%AAB or better
95.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2467C+ (33)-0.07
2022/2350B- (36.5)—
2021/2252C+ (34.9)—
2018/1951D+ (23)-0.77
2017/1873D (20.7)-0.38
2016/1768D+ (22.7)-0.31
2015/1645C- (25.6)-0.44

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University47.6+4.4
Further education1.2−0.2
Apprenticeship9.5+4.1
Employment32.1−7.1
Not in a lasting destination8.3+4.2
Activity not captured1.2−5.6

Ofsted

The Bicester School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 12 March 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
12 Mar 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2018

Earlier inspections

Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 123233), which Ofsted links to this one.

Before September 2019

  • Jun 2018Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective
  • May 2014Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

    Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 123233)

What parents said

85% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (184 replies, to 6 January 2025).

Recommend
85%
Replies
184
15% · 6 Jan 2025
Child is happy at school▼85% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe●87% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▼78% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations●84% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well●86% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼69% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing▼81% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects●92% agreeEngland 90%
Can join clubs and activities▼87% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼69% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly●76% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 76% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲59% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 46% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼55% agreeEngland 67%

based on 40 parents (22%) with SEND

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