Oldbury Wells School
72%
Capacity
736
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Oldbury Wells School
Oldbury Wells School is a mixed state secondary in Shropshire with 736 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,021. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 21.9%, which is notably higher than the national average and suggests the school serves an area with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. Despite having spare capacity overall, the school was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 332 applications for 188 places — an oversubscription ratio of 1.77. Of those applicants, 114 listed Oldbury Wells as their first preference, and all 114 were offered a place. This combination of headroom in total capacity alongside oversubscription for Year 7 entry suggests a school that is popular enough to fill its intake year group but not yet stretched to its physical limits, making it a realistic option for families in the Bridgnorth area who want a Good-rated secondary with room to grow.
Academically, the school presents a mixed picture. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This marks an improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. In terms of exam outcomes for the 2023/24 cohort, the school’s Progress 8 score was -0.44, which is below the national average and also below the Shropshire local authority average of -0.37. This places Oldbury Wells 10th out of 19 secondary schools in the county, and in the bottom 50% nationally. Attainment 8 stood at 44.5, with 64.6% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 41% achieving a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score was 3.76, with only 22.4% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. At A-level, the school’s value added score was -0.21, with an average points per entry of 25.18, equivalent to a C- grade.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and sports hall, plus clubs such as coding, science club, Duke of Edinburgh, and young enterprise. Its SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With no sixth form on site, pupils must move on at 16. The school is oversubscribed but not fiercely competitive, making it a realistic option for families in the Bridgnorth area who want a Good-rated secondary with strong facilities and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly for children who may benefit from additional support or who thrive in a less pressured academic environment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Oldbury Wells, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 5JD |
| Headteacher | Adam Walker |
| Local Authority | Shropshire |
| Number of Pupils | 736 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 21.9% |
| School Capacity | 736 / 1,021 (72% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 10 Jul 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.44)
2512th of 3,141
Nationally
281st of 371
In West Midlands
10th of 19
In Shropshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
33.3
'22/23
22.6
'23/24
25.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2328%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 185 pupils).
- Sixth form college39%
- School sixth form (stay)28%
- FE college17%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained4%
95% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2345%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 44 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
21%
Top-third HE
9%
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)45%
- Employment30%
- Not sustained14%
- Apprenticeship9%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology17
- Biology15
- Sociology10
- History9
- Mathematics9
- Chemistry7
- English Literature6
- Design and Technology (Product Design)5
- Geography5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed188
332
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
114 families put this school as their 1st choice (34% 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 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%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.0%
- Mixed4.4%
- Asian3.0%
- White (other)1.4%
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.
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.
6
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Oldbury Wells 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
Oldbury Wells, Bridgnorth
Shropshire, WV16 5JD
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Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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