Classpot

The Oxford Academy

Oxford, OX4 6JZSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Oct 2023
Progress 8
-0.72
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
107 1st-choice / 177 places
Ranking
#2,865
of 3,141 nationally

About The Oxford Academy

If you're a parent considering The Oxford Academy, the first thing to know is that it's a popular school. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 209 applications for 177 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.18, and 107 of those applicants listed it as their first preference. That level of demand suggests it holds a strong local reputation, even though official parent view data isn't available in this snapshot. The school is a mixed, Church of England secondary for ages 11-19, with a large roll of 1,113 pupils against a capacity of 1,400. Nearly half of its students (47.2%) are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average and points to a community with high levels of disadvantage. The headteacher is Nora Ward, and the school has a sixth form, a chapel, and a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, and astro turf pitches.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressSandy Lane West, Oxford, Oxford, OX4 6JZ
HeadteacherNora Ward
Local AuthorityOxfordshire
Number of Pupils1,113
Free School Meals (FSM)47.2%
School Capacity1,113 / 1,400 (80% 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

18 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 7 Dec 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

14
Music RoomsSwimming PoolArt StudiosLibraryAstro TurfTennis CourtsDining HallTheatrePlaying FieldsGymnasiumICT SuiteSports HallChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

20

Sports

CricketDanceCross CountryRoundersTennisNetballRowingAthletics

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubNewspaperScience ClubDramaBook ClubGardeningArt ClubChoirDebateYoung EnterpriseDuke of EdinburghModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

Source: theoxfordacademy.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Oxford Academy

The Oxford Academy has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.