School profile

The Cherwell School

Secondary · Academy converter · Oxford, OX2 7EE

Outstanding

Map showing The Cherwell School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#299 of 3,312

Better than 90% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#397 of 2,536

Better than 84% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Cherwell School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 19 Oct 2022

Ofsted rating
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils2,023
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Chris Price
TrustRIVER LEARNING TRUST
Local authorityOxfordshire
Opened01 Apr 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137970.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.58.9, better than England, better than Oxfordshire46.346.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.78%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire65.1%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.64.9%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire47.1%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.34%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire15.2%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths76.5%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire61.3%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4268--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.40.32, better than England, better than Oxfordshire33.4635
Average A-level gradeB--
Average points, best three A-levels39.88, better than England, better than Oxfordshire3435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB--
AAB or better34.3%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire15.6%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.2, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study332--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.z--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils2,023
Girls972
Boys1,051
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.14.4%
First language not English23%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.2,075
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.2.5%
Sixth form places2024/25650
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.277
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.80
Average class size21.4

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
42.9%
Other White
14.8%
Other mixed
7.4%
White and Asian
5.4%
Other ethnic group
5%
Pakistani
4.6%
African
3.5%
Indian
3.3%
Chinese
3.3%
Other Asian
2.5%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.4
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.2
Teachers (FTE)123.55
Teaching assistants (FTE)31.67
Support staff (FTE)95.65
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25121
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25112.7
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/254
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/254.3

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.243
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.965
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.396
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.242
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)4

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Overall absence7.3%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire9%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.17.7%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire22.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.2.2%, better than England, better than Oxfordshire4.6%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate3.8%
Pupils with one or more suspensions2.8%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.94%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.89.1%
School sixth form64.8%
Further education24.3%
Apprenticeship2.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.8%
Employment2.1%
Sixth form college0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.82%
Higher education41.5%
Employment35.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.13.3%
Further education3.4%
Apprenticeship1.9%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Cherwell School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miNot applicableOxford High School GDSTOther independent school
Unrated
0.3 miNot applicableSummer Fields SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.3 miNot applicableSt Clare's, OxfordOther independent school
Unrated
0.4 miNot applicableSt Edward's SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.5 miNot applicableDragon SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.6 miNot applicableWychwood SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.6 miNot applicabled'Overbroeck'sOther independent school
Unrated
0.7 miPrimarySt Aloysius' Catholic Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Philip and James' Church of England Aided Primary School OxfordVoluntary aided school
Good
0.8 miSecondaryThe Swan SchoolFree schools
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Cherwell School

What is The Cherwell School's Ofsted rating?

The Cherwell School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, last inspected on 19 Oct 2022.

How does The Cherwell School rank in England?

The Cherwell School ranks 299 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 90% of schools) and 397 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 84% of schools).

What are The Cherwell School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 64.9% of pupils at The Cherwell School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 58.9 (England 46.2).

What are The Cherwell School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Cherwell School was B, and 34.3% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Cherwell School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Cherwell School made 243 offers from 965 applications (4 per offer), and 242 of 396 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Cherwell School?

The Cherwell School has 2,023 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Cherwell School?

The Cherwell School had 2,075 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Cherwell School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Cherwell School has a sixth form with 650 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Cherwell School?

At The Cherwell School, the average class had 21.4 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.4 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Cherwell School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Cherwell School missed 7.3% of sessions (England 8%), and 17.7% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.