Didcot Girls' School, Didcot

In its own words: "At Didcot Girls' School, we are committed to developing confident, compassionate and aspirational young people who are equipped to make a positive difference in the world. Leadership is a distinctive and highly valued part of school life. We believe leadership takes many forms and encourage all students to develop skills such as teamwork, public speaking, creative problem-solving and decision-making."

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a vibrant school community which empowers girls to become resilient and to fulfil their potential as future leaders. Welcome to Didcot Girls' School."

In 2026, pupils at Didcot Girls' School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 59.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Oxfordshire and 47 across England.

71% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Oxfordshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 58.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.87: pupils made well 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 41.7, against 61.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 20 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were History, Combined Science and Chemistry.

For September 2026 entry, 280 families put Didcot Girls' School as their first choice and 471 named it as one of their preferences, for 263 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 31 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Didcot Girls' School are Didcot Sixth Form College (under 0.1 miles); St Birinus School (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.8); Aureus School (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 40); and UTC Oxfordshire (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 33.1).

Didcot Girls' School's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Didcot Girls' School is one of 8 schools run by Ridgeway Education Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 265 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 34% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 125 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 61% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 43% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 251 pupils (15.4%) received SEN support and 45 (2.8%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Didcot Parkway Rail Station, about 810 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Manor Crescent (adjacent), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Didcot Girls' 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 172 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Didcot Girls' School issued 158 suspensions, 9.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Didcot Girls' School are Manor Primary School (0.1 miles), Stephen Freeman Primary School (0.4 miles), Willowcroft Community School (0.6 miles) and Aureus Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.