The Henley College
N/A
Capacity
N/A
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About The Henley College
The Henley College’s headline academic metrics sit well below the Oxfordshire local authority average for secondary schools. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.7 is significantly lower than the LA average of -0.07, placing it in the ‘well below average’ national banding. This means that, on average, pupils at the college achieve nearly three-quarters of a grade less per subject than their peers across the county. The school ranks 38th out of 46 similar schools in Oxfordshire, and 10th out of 11 in South Oxfordshire specifically. Its Attainment 8 score of 36.2 is also modest, and only 31.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The college’s Ebacc entry rate is just 4.3%, far below typical levels, and its Ebacc average point score sits at 2.93. These figures paint a clear picture of a school where academic outcomes are a significant concern compared with the wider area.
The college’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, judged the overall effectiveness as ‘Not judged’ but the quality of education was rated ‘Requires improvement’, a downgrade from its previous ‘Good’ rating in 2021. Leadership and management also dropped to ‘Requires improvement’, while behaviour and attitudes and personal development both held at ‘Good’. The Parent View survey, based on 100 responses between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 74% of parents would recommend the school. Strong positives include 84% agreeing their child is happy, 85% feeling their child is safe, and 88% agreeing there is a good range of subjects. However, only 59% felt concerns are dealt with properly, and 62% agreed the school has high expectations for their child. For SEND pupils, 77% of parents agreed the school provides the support needed, though 11% disagreed.
The Henley College is a 16-99 state sixth-form college with a capacity of 965 and a very high proportion of students eligible for free school meals at 57.7%. It was oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 426 applications for 150 places and 87 first-preference offers. The college offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields, gymnasium, music rooms, a sixth-form centre and a chapel. Sports provision is extensive, with rowing, rugby, netball and athletics among the options, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, Model UN and coding. SEND provisions cover eight areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a college that suits families looking for a large, inclusive sixth-form setting with strong pastoral care and a broad extracurricular offer, but where academic results are currently a clear area for improvement.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 16 to 99 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Deanfield Avenue, Henley-on-Thames, South Oxfordshire, RG9 1UH |
| Headteacher | Simon Spearman |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 57.7% |
| School Capacity | 965 |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Jun 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.70)
2851st of 3,141
Nationally
410th of 461
In South East
10th of 11
In South Oxfordshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 163 pupils).
- FE college72%
- Not sustained10%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship3%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Sixth form college2%
87% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
100 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
426
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
87 families put this school as their 1st choice (20% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British62.5%
- Mixed14.2%
- Asian4.7%
- Black2.3%
- White (other)1.6%
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
6
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Henley College
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
Deanfield Avenue, Henley-on-Thames
South Oxfordshire, RG9 1UH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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