The Bicester School
84%
Capacity
1,198
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About The Bicester School
The Bicester School is a popular choice among local families, with 168 first-preference applications for its 176 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, making it officially oversubscribed with an overall ratio of 2.03 applicants per place. This level of demand suggests a solid reputation in the Cherwell area, though the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage in its data. The school is a mixed, non-faith secondary for ages 11 to 18, currently rated Good by Ofsted following its March 2024 inspection, with every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — all judged Good. This marks a consistent performance compared with its previous 2018 inspection, which also rated overall effectiveness as Good. With 1,198 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,430, there is some headroom, but the oversubscription figures show that securing a place is competitive, particularly for first-preference families.
Academically, the school’s Progress 8 score for 2023/24 sits at -0.16, placing it in the ‘Average’ band nationally and ranking it 26th out of 46 similar schools in Oxfordshire. This is slightly below the local authority average of -0.07, but the school’s Attainment 8 score of 45.4 is respectable, and 65.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 43.2%, with 23.5% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score is -0.07, also rated Average, with students averaging a C+ grade per entry and 15.8% achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. Within the Cherwell local authority, the school ranks 5th out of 9 schools by Progress 8, and nationally it sits in the 61st percentile, placing it in the bottom half of schools overall but still within a competitive local context.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including playing fields, an astro turf, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a theatre, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers cricket, rugby, netball, rowing, and martial arts, while extracurricular clubs include Drama, DofE, Model UN, Coding, and an Orchestra. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for a broad spectrum of SEND, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 16.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. The Bicester School will suit families who value a well-resourced comprehensive with a strong sixth form, a competitive admissions process, and a consistent Good rating from Ofsted, though those prioritising top-tier academic progress may want to compare it with higher-performing peers in the area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Queen's Avenue, Bicester, Cherwell, OX26 2NS |
| Headteacher | Sam Knowlton |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,198 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,198 / 1,430 (84% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.16)
1920th of 3,141
Nationally
290th of 461
In South East
5th of 9
In Cherwell
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
34.9
'22/23
36.5
'23/24
33.0
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
2022/2337%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 161 pupils).
- FE college39%
- School sixth form (stay)37%
- Employment10%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship5%
91% 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
2022/2344%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 72 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
12%
Russell Group
12%
Top-third HE
2%
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)44%
- Employment39%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education1%
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- Mathematics12
- Psychology11
- Sociology11
- Biology9
- Chemistry9
- Physics9
- History8
- English Literature7
- Economics6
- Geography6
- Physical Education / Sports Studies6
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
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
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed176
357
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
168 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.9%
- Mixed8.4%
- White (other)7.1%
- Asian5.0%
- 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.
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.
10
Total schools
10
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bicester 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
Queen's Avenue, Bicester
Cherwell, OX26 2NS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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