John Mason School
96%
Capacity
995
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About John Mason School
John Mason School sits in the Vale of White Horse district within Oxfordshire, a local authority that includes 46 secondary schools. Among the eight schools in its immediate borough, John Mason ranks seventh by Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half locally. The top-performing peers in the wider Oxfordshire area are The Cherwell School, Didcot Girls' School, and Bartholomew School, all of which achieve significantly higher Progress 8 scores. The school is led by headteacher Alastair West and currently has 995 pupils on roll, just below its capacity of 1,040. It is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary with a sixth form, and it does not have a religious character. The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, receiving 419 applications for 137 places, with 90 first-preference offers made — a ratio of just over three applicants per place.
Academically, John Mason’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. A subsequent ungraded inspection in December 2024 noted that some aspects were not as strong, but the sixth form provision was rated Outstanding. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Progress 8 score of -0.52 is well below the national average and significantly lower than the Oxfordshire LA average of -0.07. The Attainment 8 score stands at 41.1, and 53.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 32.5%, with 17.2% achieving the qualification at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school performs more strongly: the value added score is 0.1, placing it in the average band, and the average points per entry is 36.1, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C+.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, and science labs, plus clubs such as Drama, Orchestra, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provisions cover ten categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. However, the Parent View survey, based on 150 responses, reveals mixed feelings: only 53% of parents would recommend the school, and just 26% strongly agree or agree that SEND children receive the support they need. On the positive side, 91% agree that their child can take part in clubs and activities, and 86% agree there is a good range of subjects. John Mason is a good fit for families who value a strong sixth form and broad extracurricular offer, but who are comfortable with GCSE outcomes that trail the local average and with a parent body that is notably divided on behaviour and SEND support.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Wootton Road, Abingdon, Vale of White Horse, OX14 1JB |
| Headteacher | Alastair West |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 995 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.5% |
| School Capacity | 995 / 1,040 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (11 Dec 2024): Some aspects not as strong
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 18 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.52)
2636th of 3,141
Nationally
379th of 461
In South East
7th of 8
In Vale of White Horse
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
37.7
'22/23
31.4
'23/24
36.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 74 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
33%
Russell Group
37%
Top-third HE
7%
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)62%
- Employment23%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Further education3%
- Not sustained3%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
150 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed137
419
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
90 families put this school as their 1st choice (21% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.5%
- Asian7.6%
- White (other)7.4%
- Mixed6.0%
- Black0.4%
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.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
8
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About John Mason 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
Wootton Road, Abingdon
Vale of White Horse, OX14 1JB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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