Bardwell School, Bicester
Bardwell School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Bicester, part of The Gallery Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, ended in a report card: 8 strong standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2014.
- Ofsted report card
- 8 of 8 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bardwell School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Bardwell School on 8 areas: 8 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils, including those with the most complex needs, consistently achieve well across the curriculum."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders are determined in their efforts to improve attendance for all pupils."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have a very clear understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching across the school."
Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders have a thorough understanding of the school's early years provision."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have a detailed understanding of pupils, parents and carers and the local community."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders and those responsible for governance know the school well."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have ensured there is a well-thought-out personal development programme that is comprehensive and well-sequenced."
Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "The carefully considered post-16 curriculum is taught consistently well."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain the effectiveness of their work and continue to refine and embed their identified priorities for improvement, overcoming any barriers and challenges, in order to drive a transformational impact for all pupils".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
The trust
Bardwell School is one of 7 schools run by The Gallery Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bardwell School (as of April 2026): 35% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (77%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 6 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 17% to a further education college.
Who goes there
37.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 12.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (60%), Asian (7%) and Mixed (7%).
Almost every pupil at Bardwell School has an education, health and care plan (121 of 121 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Bardwell School has a resourced provision for severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 95 places, 123 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bicester North Rail Station, about 860 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rochford Gardens (adjacent), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bardwell School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 114 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Bardwell School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post 16 provisionStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Bardwell School
Bardwell School is built on strong, trusting relationships. These underpin everything that happens each day from early years through to post-16. Pupils are welcomed by staff who know them well and understand their needs. This helps them feel safe, valued and ready to learn. Staff listen carefully to pupils and know what they need to thrive. Staff respond quickly to provide effective support so pupils can be successful in their learning. The school celebrates the progress of all pupils. Staff help pupils try new things at a pace that is right for them. The curriculum is very carefully designed. It is bespoke and appropriate for each pupil in the school. From the moment pupils arrive each day, staff provide them with meaningful interactions and learning. Wherever possible, learning activities are linked to real life. Community visits, outdoor learning and enterprise projects help pupils understand the world around them. This prepares pupils for their lives beyond the school. Leaders and staff ensure that learning matches pupils' individual needs. It provides meaningful opportunities for all pupils to learn and develop, socially, emotionally and academically. Pupils enjoy learning. Classrooms and the school are calm and well organised. This supports pupils' sensory needs and avoids them feeling overwhelmed and unsettled. Staff use visual prompts and a range of communication strategies are evident across the school. These help pupils to communicate effectively. Routines help pupils feel secure and ready to focus. They develop their independence through everyday tasks. Pupils' attendance is high because they like coming to school and feel a sense of belonging. As they move through the school, they develop confidence, resilience and independence. Pupils behave well. They have no concerns about bullying. Pupils achieve well. Post-16 students speak proudly about how well prepared they are for their next steps into adulthood.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain the effectiveness of their work and continue to refine and embed their identified priorities for improvement, overcoming any barriers and challenges, in order to drive a transformational impact for all pupils.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 24 March 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Bardwell School excels at supporting pupils with complex needs to achieve well and develop independence skills for adulthood. The school creates a warm, calm environment where pupils are highly respected and behaviour is consistently positive. Teachers use subject knowledge effectively to explain concepts in ways pupils understand, with a clear focus on communication and preparation for life after school.
Key Strengths
- Pupils with complex needs achieve well across the curriculum with particularly strong progress in communication, language and social development
- Calm, positive behaviour supported by warm relationships and a relationship-based approach to managing behaviour
- Comprehensive, carefully considered curriculum with high aspirations for all pupils, woven around outcomes from education, health and care plans
- Inclusive practice with detailed understanding of individual pupil needs and effective targeted interventions
- Strong post-16 provision with excellent work experience opportunities preparing students for future study and employment
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with leaders fulfilling responsibilities and establishing an open culture where concerns are actively identified and managed, resulting in pupils feeling safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Martial arts, musical instrument lessons, school talent competition (Bardwell's Got Talent), school council, work experience opportunities, college visits
Bardwell School is a special school that has been rated as having a strong standard across all areas of inspection. The school demonstrates exceptional leadership, inclusive practices, and consistently high-quality teaching that prepares pupils well for their next stages of education and adulthood.
At a Glance
37.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
Keep up with Bardwell School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bardwell School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bardwell School is in Oxfordshire; for families living there:
- Oxfordshire's school travel policy: Free home to school travel assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
127%
Over capacity
121 pupils
95 places
26 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bicester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bicester
Across Oxfordshire council
Places available
7,654
Applications
6,814
Got 1st preference
85.4%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Oxfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
121
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Bardwell School has a resourced provision for severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 95 places, 123 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
121
Total Pupils
84
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
7.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,317
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
27.5%
Persistent absence
91
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Bardwell School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Bardwell School
What are SATs results like at Bardwell School?
Of the pupils at Bardwell School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Bardwell School's Ofsted rating?
Bardwell School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bardwell School?
No fixed boundary. When Bardwell School is oversubscribed, Oxfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Bardwell School?
Bardwell School has around 121 pupils on roll. 37% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Bardwell School have specialist SEN provision?
Bardwell School has a resourced provision for severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 95 places, 123 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Bardwell School?
8.6% of sessions were missed at Bardwell School in 2024/25. 27.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bardwell School?
Apply through Oxfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Bardwell School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Bardwell School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on a bicycle. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Oxfordshire is 5 (the median across 369 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bardwell School?
Bardwell School is at Hendon Place, Sunderland Drive, Bicester, Oxfordshire, OX26 4RZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)