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Academy converter · Oxfordshire

Cheney School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,706Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 139146URN

Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7QH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodJan 2015
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Sep 2023
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.5per place
0.3 above Oxfordshire median (2.3)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Oxfordshire

659 applications for 260 places · 12th of 38 in Oxfordshire
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
47.0of 90
19th of 41 in Oxfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodJan 2015
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Sep 2023

Inspection history

  1. 21 September 2023
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
  2. 28 January 2015
    Graded inspection: Good

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
2.5applications per place, Year 7
0.3 above Oxfordshire median (2.3) 0.3 above England median (2.2)

659 applications · 260 places offered · 228 named it first

  1. 2026 2.5; Oxfordshire median median 2.3
  2. 2025 2.5; Oxfordshire median median 2.2
  3. 2024 2.8; Oxfordshire median median 2.3
  4. 2023 2.9; Oxfordshire median median 2.3
  5. 2022 2.5; Oxfordshire median median 1.9
  6. 2021 2.3; Oxfordshire median median 1.9
  7. 2020 2.6; Oxfordshire median median 1.9
  8. 2019 2.6; Oxfordshire median median 1.8
  9. 2018 2.4; Oxfordshire median median 1.8
  10. 2017 2.5; Oxfordshire median median 1.8
  11. 2016 2.4; Oxfordshire median median 1.7
  12. 2015 2.3; Oxfordshire median median 1.7
  13. 2014 2.2; 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 20262606592.52280.88
Sep 20252686782.52180.81
Sep 20242567182.82280.89
Sep 20232587402.92480.96
Sep 20222816952.52700.96
Sep 20212836362.32270.80
Sep 20202626772.62681.02
Sep 20192686882.62831.06
Sep 20182636402.42580.98
Sep 20172676642.52340.88
Sep 20162706432.42360.87
Sep 20152375542.31900.80
Sep 20142365172.22090.89

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

282 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)47.019th of 41 in Oxfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%20th of 41 in Oxfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths63%
  • This school
  • Oxfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.19
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)28247.047%63%–
2024/2528246.049%62%–
2023/2427046.948%64%+0.19
2022/2327048.247%65%+0.13

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
139146 · 931/4120
Trust
River Learning Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,615 pupils · 1,706 on roll
Free school meals
26.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 January 2013
Replaced
Cheney School (URN 123253)
Address
Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7QH
Local authority
Oxfordshire · Oxford

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