John Mason School
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.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 150 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Dec 2024Latest monitoring visit (11 Dec 2024): Some aspects not as strong
Source: Ofsted, 18 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications