The Henry Box School
About The Henry Box School
The Henry Box School is a mixed secondary and sixth form in West Oxfordshire, part of the Oxfordshire local authority. Among the 46 secondary schools in the county, it ranks 30th by Progress 8 score, placing it in the bottom half locally. The top-performing peers in the area are The Cherwell School, Didcot Girls' School, and Bartholomew School, all of which achieve significantly higher Progress 8 scores. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 281 applications for 129 places and 125 first-preference offers, indicating strong local demand despite its middling academic ranking. Headteacher Wendy Hemmingsley leads a school with a capacity of 1,469 but currently 1,075 pupils on roll, so there is some room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 19. 3%, slightly above the national average, and the school does not have a religious character. It has a sixth form and is not a boarding school.
Key Details
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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Feb 2023Latest monitoring visit (9 Feb 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jan 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:05
Source: henrybox.oxon.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Henry Box 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications