Aureus School
40%
Capacity
485
Pupils
3.2x
Demand
About Aureus School
Aureus School in Didcot is a mixed secondary for 11-16 year olds that currently serves 485 pupils against a capacity of 1,200, meaning it is operating at just over 40% of its potential size. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 32.7%, which is notably high compared with the national average for secondary schools. Despite this spare capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 336 applications for 104 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.23 to one. Only 53 of those applications were first-preference offers, indicating strong local demand but also that many families are not getting their top choice. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Kirsty Rogers, who took over a school that had been rated Requires Improvement in its previous inspection.
Academically, Aureus sits below the local authority average. Its Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.46, compared with the Oxfordshire LA average of -0.07, and the school is ranked 33rd out of 46 similar schools in the county. The Attainment 8 score was 35, and just 46.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs (the basics measure). The EBacc entry rate was low at 17.3%, and only 10.2% of pupils entered the full EBacc. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024, the school was judged Good across all areas including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils must move on after Year 11.
Aureus offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, sports hall, astro turf, art studios, and an ICT suite, plus clubs such as Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a newspaper group. The school supports a wide array of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Parent View responses from 96 respondents show 79% would recommend the school, with strong majorities agreeing that their child is happy (82% agree or strongly agree) and feels safe (84%). However, 21% would not recommend it, and concerns about bullying and SEND support drew more mixed responses. This is a school that has turned around its Ofsted rating and is in high demand locally, but its academic outcomes remain below the LA average — best suited to families who prioritise the broader pastoral and personal development offer over headline exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Candytuft Way, Didcot, Vale of White Horse, OX11 6FF |
| Headteacher | Kirsty Rogers |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 485 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.7% |
| School Capacity | 485 / 1,200 (40% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 27 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.46)
2540th of 3,141
Nationally
368th of 461
In South East
6th of 8
In Vale of White Horse
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Ofsted Parent View
96 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed104
336
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
53 families put this school as their 1st choice (16% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British65.8%
- White (other)10.1%
- Mixed6.1%
- Asian4.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Aureus School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Candytuft Way, Didcot
Vale of White Horse, OX11 6FF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
