Frank Wise School, Banbury
Frank Wise School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Banbury. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Frank Wise School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Frank Wise School are Bloxham Grove Academy (2.2 miles); and Swalcliffe Park School CIO (4.4 miles, Outstanding).
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Frank Wise School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).
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.
Who goes there
37.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (73%), Mixed (8%) and Asian (8%).
Almost every pupil at Frank Wise School has an education, health and care plan (119 of 119 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Frank Wise School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Banbury Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hornbeam Close (adjacent), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 331 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Frank Wise 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Frank Wise School creates a genuinely happy, nurturing place where every child is valued and understood. Teachers have exceptional specialist knowledge and tailor learning precisely to each pupil's needs, helping them achieve brilliantly across all subjects. The school's inclusion programme is unique - pupils spend time learning alongside mainstream school peers every week, building real friendships and boosting their confidence in the wider community.
Key Strengths
- Highly personalised curriculum tailored to each pupil's individual needs and education, health and care plan outcomes
- Distinctive inclusion programme with weekly half-day visits to mainstream schools, building genuine friendships and breaking down barriers
- Excellent preparation for life after school through residential trips, work experience, and enterprise projects that develop real-world skills
- Strong communication and language support using consistent symbols and personalised aids across all pupils
- High staff expectations for behaviour and pupils' self-regulation, creating a calm and purposeful atmosphere
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Residential trips, community coffee mornings, school enterprise projects, work-based activities in local businesses, playground sensory equipment, school council, community inclusion visits to mainstream schools
Frank Wise School is a special school for pupils aged 2-19 with learning difficulties that has maintained outstanding standards. Pupils thrive in this nurturing environment where they are valued, safe and happy.
At a Glance
37.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD, SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
26 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Keep up with Frank Wise School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Frank Wise School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Frank Wise 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
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 14 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
3 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
102%
Over capacity
119 pupils
117 places
2 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Banbury
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Banbury
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
119
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Frank Wise School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
119
Total Pupils
80
Boys
39
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
25
Teachers
4.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,714
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.3%
Overall absence
30.7%
Persistent absence
88
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
Frank Wise School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Frank Wise School
What are SATs results like at Frank Wise School?
Of the pupils at Frank Wise School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Frank Wise School's Ofsted rating?
Frank Wise School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Frank Wise School?
No fixed boundary. When Frank Wise School is oversubscribed, Oxfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Frank Wise School?
Frank Wise School has around 119 pupils on roll. 38% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Frank Wise School have specialist SEN provision?
Frank Wise School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Frank Wise School?
10.3% of sessions were missed at Frank Wise School in 2024/25. 30.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Frank Wise School?
Apply through Oxfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Frank Wise 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 Frank Wise School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 14 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 3 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 Frank Wise School?
Frank Wise School is at Hornbeam Close, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 9RL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)