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Matthew Arnold School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Arnolds Way, Oxford OX2 9JE · maschool.org.uk · 01865 862232

On the mapSearch near OX2 9JE

Overview

Ofsted
No overall grade
2019 framework · inspected Jun 2025
GCSEs, 2024/25
56.5
average Attainment 8 score. Oxfordshire 46.4, England 46
Demand for places
0.7
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,255
35 over 1,220 places · 103%
Local authority
Oxfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
13.2%
First language not English
14%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Acer Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 141 families put the school first and 192 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: 218 (Places 204)218September 2023: 209 (Places 204)209September 2024: 160 (Places 208)160September 2025: 157 (Places 206)157September 2026: 141 (Places 192)141Places 192
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261921410.7100%
September 2025Sept 20252061570.897%
September 2024Sept 20242081600.8100%
September 2023Sept 20232042091▲90%
September 2022Sept 20222042181.1▲85%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 56.5, and 65.2% 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 C+ (34 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: 54.3 (England 46.3)54.32017/18: 55.4 (England 46.5)55.42018/19: 58.6 (England 46.7)58.62021/22: 55.4 (England 48.8)55.42022/23: 50.9 (England 46.3)50.92023/24: 50.1 (England 45.9)50.12024/25: 56.5 (England 46.0)56.5England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲56.546.0
▲65.2%45.4%
▲83.1%64.8%
▲53.6%40.5%
▲5.284.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form60−6
Further education28.1+7
Apprenticeship3.3+0.9
Employment3.8+0.9
Not in a lasting destination2.4−2.9
Activity not captured2.4+1

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: 32.3 (England 30.5)C+2016/17: 37.4 (England 31.1)B-2017/18: 31.3 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 36.6 (England 32.9)B-2021/22: 38.1 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 31.8 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 33.2 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 34.0 (England 35.0)C+England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
107 studentsC+ (34)Average 0.00
107 studentsC+ (34.2)Average +0.01
16.8%AAB or better
90.6%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24133C+ (33.2)-0.08
2022/23116C+ (31.8)—
2021/22130B- (38.1)—
2018/1999B- (36.6)-0.16
2017/1899C (31.3)-0.09
2016/1780B- (37.4)+0.21
2015/16113C+ (32.3)+0.09

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University37.6−10.2
Further and other education6.4+2
Further education4.3+2.1
Other education2.1−0.1
Apprenticeship3.5+0.5
Employment41.1+13.5
Not in a lasting destination6.4−4.8
Activity not captured5−1

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Matthew Arnold School on 10 June 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.

Overall
No overall grade
Inspected
10 Jun 2025
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

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

Previously: Concerns, ungraded inspection, Apr 2024

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Apr 2024Ungraded inspectionConcerns
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Nov 2018Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Jan 2018Monitoring visit
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Feb 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Feb 2008Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

80% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (182 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
80%
Replies
182
15% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school▼85% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼87% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼71% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼72% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼79% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼69% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing●87% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▼86% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities●93% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development●77% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼71% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 75% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼38% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 37% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need●66% agreeEngland 67%

based on 47 parents (26%) with SEND

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