Burford School, Burford

From the headteacher's welcome: "Burford School has been delivering an excellent education for over 450 years. Today, we continue to offer the best of education to day and boarding girls and boys, aged 11 to 18 years old. We know our students will need superb academic foundations to flourish in the future, and we support each one to reach for their very best."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama and debating.

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 4 November 2026 and an open day on Saturday 6 February 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Burford School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Oxfordshire and 47 across England.

49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Oxfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 52.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.21: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 34.1, against 53.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 245 families put Burford School as their first choice and 500 named it as one of their preferences, for 226 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 25 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Burford School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 80% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

Of the 248 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 135 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 37% into work. 29% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 180 pupils (12.4%) received SEN support and 34 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Burford School.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Burford School (inside), 240 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 16 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52).

In 2024/25, Burford School issued 111 suspensions, 7.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.