Classpot

Matthew Arnold School

Vale of White Horse, OX2 9JESecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2024
Progress 8
-0.24
Below average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
252 1st-choice / 187 places
Ranking
#2,108
of 3,141 nationally

About Matthew Arnold School

Matthew Arnold School is a mixed state secondary in the Vale of White Horse district of Oxfordshire, and it sits in a competitive local landscape. Within its local authority, it ranks 5th out of 8 schools of its type, placing it in the 62.5th percentile. For context, the top-performing peers in the area are The Cherwell School, Didcot Girls' School, and Bartholomew School, all of which have notably higher ranking scores. The school is also 29th out of 46 similar schools across the wider Oxfordshire authority, and the nearest Outstanding-rated school is The Cherwell School, about 4.8 km away. Matthew Arnold itself was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2016. The inspection noted that the school remains Good, with leadership and management also judged Good. It is a large school, with 1,250 pupils on roll against a capacity of 980, and it has a sixth form, though it is not officially designated as such in the data.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressArnolds Way, Oxford, Vale of White Horse, OX2 9JE
HeadteacherAnthony Broadley
Local AuthorityOxfordshire
Number of Pupils1,250
Free School Meals (FSM)20.9%
School Capacity1,250 / 980 (128% full)

The full report on this school

What 119 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 English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

7 Feb 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (7 Feb 2024): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 17 Jul 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Astro TurfTheatreScience LabsTennis CourtsMusic RoomsArt StudiosPlaying FieldsSports HallSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

NetballRugbyRoundersHockeyTennisAthleticsBadmintonFootball

Clubs & Activities

DramaChoirOrchestraDebateChessCoding

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:00

Source: maschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew Arnold School

Matthew Arnold School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.