Wheatley Park School
85%
Capacity
1,146
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Wheatley Park School
Wheatley Park School is a mixed state secondary in South Oxfordshire, part of the Oxfordshire local authority. Among the 46 secondary schools in the LA, it ranks 7th by Progress 8 score, placing it comfortably in the top quartile. The top-performing peers in the area are The Cherwell School, Didcot Girls' School, and Bartholomew School, all of which sit ahead of it on the same metric. With a Progress 8 score of 0.55, Wheatley Park is well above the national average and significantly ahead of the LA average of -0.07. The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, receiving 498 applications for 173 places, with 220 first-preference applications and 162 first-preference offers. That level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, and the school's rank of 4th out of 11 schools in South Oxfordshire itself reinforces its standing within the immediate district.
Academically, Wheatley Park delivers strong results across both key stages. At KS4, the school's Progress 8 score of 0.55 is rated 'Well above average', with particularly strong progress in English (0.6) and the EBacc subjects (0.71). The Attainment 8 score sits at 53.9, and 78.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 38.7%, with 29.8% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At KS5, the picture is more mixed: the value added score is -0.23, rated 'Below average', and the average points per entry is 32.93, equivalent to a C+ grade. However, the best three A-levels average out at a B- grade, and 22.5% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The sixth form has 91 pupils in the data, and the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Good, having improved from a Requires Improvement rating in its previous graded inspection in 2013.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, science labs, music rooms, art studios, a sixth form centre, and a chapel. Sports provision includes swimming, football, netball, tennis, martial arts, and rugby, while extracurricular clubs cover choir, drama, coding, Young Enterprise, Model UN, Debate, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND support is extensive, covering nine categories from dyslexia and moderate learning difficulty to autistic spectrum disorder and physical disability. With 15.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake. Wheatley Park is a good fit for families who prioritise strong KS4 progress and a well-resourced environment, but who may want to investigate sixth-form value added more closely if post-16 outcomes are a primary concern. Its oversubscription means early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Holton, Oxford, South Oxfordshire, OX33 1QH |
| Headteacher | Tim Martin |
| Local Authority | Oxfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,146 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,146 / 1,350 (85% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (16 Mar 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 18 Apr 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.55)
435th of 3,141
Nationally
75th of 461
In South East
4th of 11
In South Oxfordshire
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)
'21/22
38.7
'22/23
33.5
'23/24
32.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2361%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 163 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)61%
- FE college23%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained3%
- Sixth form college1%
96% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2357%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 109 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
23%
Russell Group
20%
Top-third HE
5%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)57%
- Employment28%
- Not sustained6%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology34
- Sociology31
- History20
- Mathematics17
- Biology16
- Business Studies:Single15
- English Language and Literature11
- English Literature11
- Geography11
- Art and Design (Fine Art)10
- Chemistry10
- Physical Education / Sports Studies10
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed173
498
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
220 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British70.2%
- Mixed9.3%
- Asian7.0%
- White (other)5.8%
- Black0.3%
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.
3
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
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 Wheatley Park 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
Holton, Oxford
South Oxfordshire, OX33 1QH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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