Chipping Norton School
70%
Capacity
1,029
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Chipping Norton School
Chipping Norton School’s Progress 8 score of 0.29 places it well above the Oxfordshire local authority average of -0.07, meaning pupils here make significantly more academic progress between Key Stage 2 and GCSE than their peers across the county. This is a strong performance for a state secondary, and it’s backed up by an Attainment 8 score of 52.9, which reflects the average grade achieved across eight core subjects. The school also outperforms the LA average in maths and English specifically, with a Progress 8 score of 0.47 in maths and 0.38 in English. In the West Oxfordshire borough, it ranks third out of six schools on this metric, and nationally it sits in the top 28% of all schools. These figures suggest a school that consistently adds value for its students, regardless of their starting points.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good overall, but several individual categories were judged Outstanding: personal development, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and the sixth-form provision. The sixth form itself is a particular strength, with an Outstanding rating and a value-added score of -0.05, which is in line with the national average. At A-level, students achieved an average of 37.37 points per entry, equivalent to a B- grade, and 20.3% of entries were graded AAB or higher. At GCSE level, 78% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the school’s EBacc average point score of 4.19 is solid. The school’s previous inspection in 2017 also rated it Good overall, so the current rating reflects sustained quality over time.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 292 applications for 175 places, with 176 first-preference applications and 165 first-preference offers. This suggests strong local demand. Facilities are extensive and include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, music rooms, and a sixth-form centre, alongside a wide range of sports from rowing to martial arts. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, orchestra, and science club. The school supports a broad range of SEND needs, including autism, dyslexia, and speech and language difficulties. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 93% would recommend the school, and 94% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress, a well-regarded sixth form, and a wide choice of extracurricular activities, all within a Good-rated setting that parents clearly trust.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Burford Road, Chipping Norton, West Oxfordshire, OX7 5DY |
| Headteacher | Bertram Richter |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,029 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,029 / 1,462 (70% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Sept 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.29)
853rd of 3,141
Nationally
134th of 461
In South East
3rd of 6
In West Oxfordshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
40.9
'22/23
35.9
'23/24
37.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2349%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 140 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)49%
- FE college34%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained3%
- Sixth form college1%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 83 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
31%
Russell Group
26%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)59%
- Employment27%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship5%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology43
- Mathematics29
- Biology28
- Chemistry25
- Physics22
- English Literature17
- Business Studies:Single13
- History12
- Sociology12
- Geography11
- English Language and Literature9
- Physical Education / Sports Studies7
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
149 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed175
292
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
176 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.9%
- White (other)4.5%
- Asian3.7%
- Mixed3.5%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
4
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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 Chipping Norton 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
Burford Road, Chipping Norton
West Oxfordshire, OX7 5DY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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