Classpot

The Cherwell School

Oxford, OX2 7EESecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Oct 2022
Progress 8
+0.88
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
360 1st-choice / 255 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#133 of 3,141 nationally

About The Cherwell School

The Cherwell School sits at the top of the Oxfordshire secondary school rankings, ranked first out of seven schools in the city of Oxford and first out of 46 across the whole local authority. Its Progress 8 score of 0.88 places it well above the national average and far ahead of the Oxfordshire LA average of -0.07. Among its closest peers in the local area, it outpaces Didcot Girls' School (0.87), Bartholomew School (0.80), and Gillotts School (0.71). The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 18, led by headteacher Chris Price. It is one of only four schools in the entire local authority to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent graded inspection in 2022 and its previous inspection in 2008. With 2,008 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,850, the school is clearly in high demand among Oxford families.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressMarston Ferry Road, Oxford, Oxford, OX2 7EE
HeadteacherChris Price
Local AuthorityOxfordshire
Number of Pupils2,008
Free School Meals (FSM)17.6%
School Capacity2,008 / 1,850 (109% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

19 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
TheatreLibrarySwimming PoolDining HallGymnasiumSports HallAstro TurfMusic RoomsArt StudiosPlaying FieldsChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

Martial ArtsSwimmingCricketDanceBasketballGymnasticsBadminton

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaChoirEco ClubFilm ClubYoung EnterpriseOrchestraScience ClubModel United NationsDuke of Edinburgh

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:20

Source: cherwell.oxon.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Cherwell School

The Cherwell School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.