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Academy converter · Oxfordshire

The Cherwell School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 2,023Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137970URN

Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, OX2 7EE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2022 Previous framework

Outstanding
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
4.0per place
1.7 above Oxfordshire median (2.3)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Oxfordshire

965 applications for 243 places · 2nd of 38 in Oxfordshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
58.9of 90
4th of 41 in Oxfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 19 October 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth form provisionOutstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
4.0applications per place, Year 7
1.7 above Oxfordshire median (2.3) 1.7 above England median (2.2)

965 applications · 243 places offered · 396 named it first

  1. 2026 4.0; Oxfordshire median median 2.3
  2. 2025 4.1; Oxfordshire median median 2.2
  3. 2024 3.7; Oxfordshire median median 2.3
  4. 2023 4.1; Oxfordshire median median 2.3
  5. 2022 3.3; Oxfordshire median median 1.9
  6. 2021 3.4; Oxfordshire median median 1.9
  7. 2020 3.3; Oxfordshire median median 1.9
  8. 2019 2.9; Oxfordshire median median 1.8
  9. 2018 2.6; Oxfordshire median median 1.8
  10. 2017 2.9; Oxfordshire median median 1.8
  11. 2016 2.9; Oxfordshire median median 1.7
  12. 2015 2.8; Oxfordshire median median 1.7
  13. 2014 2.6; Oxfordshire median median 1.6
More applications per place than the Oxfordshire median in 13 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Oxfordshire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262439654.03961.63
Sep 20252551,0564.13601.41
Sep 20242739963.73441.26
Sep 20232561,0414.13891.52
Sep 20222598513.33641.41
Sep 20212548633.43601.42
Sep 20202628533.33351.28
Sep 20192747892.94511.65
Sep 20182767112.63851.39
Sep 20172697792.94241.58
Sep 20162587502.93931.52
Sep 20152597262.84301.66
Sep 20142586802.63881.50

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

268 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)58.94th of 41 in Oxfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths65%4th of 41 in Oxfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths78%
  • This school
  • Oxfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.88
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)26858.965%78%–
2024/2526958.366%79%–
2023/2428458.465%79%+0.88
2022/2328359.268%82%+0.95

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
137970 · 931/4116
Trust
River Learning Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,850 pupils · 2,023 on roll
Free school meals
17.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Opened
1 April 2012
Replaced
The Cherwell School (URN 123251)
Address
Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, OX2 7EE
Local authority
Oxfordshire · Oxford

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources