Oakwood High School
101%
Capacity
1,063
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Oakwood High School
Oakwood High School is a popular choice among Rotherham families, with 251 first-preference applications for 204 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. The school was oversubscribed overall, receiving 415 total applications for those 204 spots, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.03. Of the first-preference applicants, 193 received offers, meaning most who put it first got a place. The school doesn't publish a parent satisfaction survey, but the demand speaks for itself. With 29% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a diverse community. The headteacher, Phillip Storey, leads a mixed secondary for ages 11 to 16 with no sixth form. The school's capacity is 1,050, and it currently has 1,063 pupils on roll, so it's running slightly above capacity.
Academically, Oakwood performs around the local average. Its Progress 8 score of -0.12 is slightly above the Rotherham local authority average of -0.15, placing it 7th out of 16 secondary schools in the area. Attainment 8 sits at 45.7, and 65.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 38% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is low at 11.6%, and the EBacc average point score is 3.65. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2012, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. A subsequent ungraded inspection in 2021 confirmed the school remains Good. The previous inspection in 2009 had rated it Requires Improvement, so the trajectory is positive.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, and a gymnasium. Sports on offer include basketball, hockey, cricket, and dance, while clubs range from Eco Club and Debate to Coding and Film Club. SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and physical disabilities. Oakwood suits families looking for a well-subscribed, improving secondary in Rotherham with strong leadership and a wide range of extracurriculars, particularly for pupils who may benefit from the school's inclusive SEND support. The lack of a sixth form means students will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Moorgate Road, Rotherham, Rotherham, S60 2UH |
| Headteacher | Phillip Storey |
| Local Authority | Rotherham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,063 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,063 / 1,050 (101% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (10 Nov 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 22 Jan 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.12)
1817th of 3,141
Nationally
164th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
7th of 16
In Rotherham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2311%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 207 pupils).
- Sixth form college55%
- FE college20%
- School sixth form (stay)11%
- Not sustained6%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship3%
93% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed204
415
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
251 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 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British38.3%
- Asian37.8%
- Mixed5.1%
- White (other)4.5%
- Black0.1%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
9
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
7
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 Oakwood High 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
Moorgate Road, Rotherham
Rotherham, S60 2UH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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