Lord Williams's School, Thame

In its own words: "Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils for life beyond school. Ofsted, 2022 We promote high quality teaching and learning, attracting talented, committed and conscientious teachers who produce stimulating and challenging learning activities helped by experienced support staff. Teamwork is a key feature of our work."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Lord Williams's School is a thriving and popular comprehensive school serving the Thame community and its surrounding rural area. We are a split-site school, with Years 7 - 9 on the Lower School site at Towersey Road and Years 10 - 13 on the Upper School site at Oxford Road."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include dance, drama and Duke of Edinburgh.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 1 March 2027, an open day on Thursday 4 March 2027, an open day on Monday 8 March 2027 and an open day on Thursday 11 March 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Lord Williams's School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Oxfordshire and 47 across England.

51% 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 46.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.06: pupils made about 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 29.9, against 49.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 20 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 279 families put Lord Williams's School as their first choice and 515 named it as one of their preferences, for 301 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

Lord Williams's School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

Of the 317 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 288 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 38% went on to university or other higher education, 5% to apprenticeships and 44% into work. 22% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

13.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (5%).

In 2026, 216 pupils (9.6%) received SEN support and 124 (5.5%) 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.

Lord Williams's School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs and autism: 30 places, 22 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Haddenham & Thame Parkway Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lord Williams Upper School (inside), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lord Williams's School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Lord Williams's School issued 200 suspensions, 8.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Lord Williams's School are St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Thame (0.4 miles); Barley Hill Primary School (0.8 miles); and John Hampden Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.