The Swan School
76%
Capacity
952
Pupils
4.7x
Demand
About The Swan School
The Swan School in Oxford is a mixed state secondary that opened with significant local demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 838 applications for 178 places, making it heavily oversubscribed with a ratio of 4.71 applicants per place. Of those, 233 were first-preference applications, and 146 first-preference offers were made. The school currently has 952 pupils against a capacity of 1,260, so there is room to grow. Its free school meals rate stands at 21.6%, which is above the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely comprehensive intake. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Kay Wood. It operates as an 11-18 school with an official sixth form, and it is not a boarding school.
Academically, The Swan School performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of +0.55 is rated as 'Well above average' nationally, placing it 2nd out of 7 schools in Oxford and 76th out of 461 in the South East region. This is a strong contrast to the Oxfordshire local authority average Progress 8 of -0.07. Attainment 8 sits at 55.7, and 77% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also has a high EBacc entry rate of 82.8%, with 61.5% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding marks for behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. At A-level, the school's average points per entry is 36.5, equivalent to a B- grade, and its value-added score is 0.01, rated as Average.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, astro turf, playing fields, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include hockey, rugby, netball, cricket, basketball, athletics, gymnastics, and martial arts, while clubs range from coding and chess to debate, orchestra, and Model UN. The school has a substantial SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families looking for a high-performing comprehensive with strong academic outcomes, a broad extracurricular offer, and a clear commitment to inclusion. The oversubscription means early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, Oxford, OX2 7WP |
| Headteacher | Kay Wood |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 952 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 21.6% |
| School Capacity | 952 / 1,260 (76% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 28 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.55)
436th of 3,141
Nationally
76th of 461
In South East
2nd of 7
In Oxford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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)
'22/23
38.4
'23/24
36.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology5
- Chemistry4
- English Literature3
- History3
- Mathematics3
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed178
838
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
233 families put this school as their 1st choice (28% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Breakfast club
08:05-08:30
Source: theswanschool.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British31.9%
- Asian21.9%
- Mixed15.3%
- White (other)10.6%
- Black0.9%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Swan 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
Marston Ferry Road, Oxford
Oxford, OX2 7WP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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