Fitzharrys School

About Fitzharrys School

Fitzharrys School in Abingdon was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2016, and a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.12, which places pupils’ progress a notch above the national average. That score is also comfortably ahead of the Oxfordshire local authority average of -0.07, meaning students at Fitzharrys typically make stronger progress than their peers across the county. In fact, the school ranks 1st out of 8 secondary schools in the Vale of White Horse district when measured by Progress 8, and sits 18th out of 46 state secondaries across the wider Oxfordshire area. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 45.5, and 70.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths — a solid benchmark for a school that is clearly delivering above the local baseline.

At Key Stage 5, the picture is more mixed. Fitzharrys has a sixth form, and its A-level value added score of -0.45 is rated as below average, with a typical grade of C per entry and 29.5 points per entry. The proportion of students achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects is 11.4%. However, the school’s EBacc entry rate is a notable 58.3%, and its EBacc average point score of 4.32 suggests a strong push toward a broad academic curriculum at GCSE. The Progress 8 breakdown shows particular strength in maths (0.28) and the EBacc bucket (0.43), though English progress is slightly negative at -0.16. With 43 pupils in the sixth form cohort, it is a relatively small provision, which may explain some of the volatility in results.

Fitzharrys is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for pupils aged 11 to 18, with 844 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1066. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 485 applications for 170 places, with 204 first-preference applications and 163 offers made to first-preference families — an oversubscription ratio of 2.85. The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, an astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a chapel. Its SEND provisions are extensive, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision on site. The clubs list includes DofE, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a full orchestra, while sports range from netball and hockey to martial arts and swimming. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-subscribed local comprehensive with strong GCSE progress, a broad curriculum, and a sixth form that is still finding its feet academically.

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