Magdalen College School, Brackley

In its own words: "To support exceptional education provision high quality resources are required: staff, leadership and premises."

In 2026, pupils at Magdalen College School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.3 in West Northamptonshire and 47 across England.

41% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in West Northamptonshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 44.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.25: pupils made below 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 28.7, against 46.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 173 families put Magdalen College School as their first choice and 248 named it as one of their preferences, for 211 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Magdalen College School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

280 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Magdalen College School (as of September 2025): 46% would recommend the school, 60% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (69%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (32%).

Of the 249 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 5% into work.

Of the 105 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 51% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 27% into work. 16% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 399 pupils (30.9%) received SEN support and 39 (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 specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

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

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Library (opposite), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 47 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Northamptonshire (90).

In 2024/25, Magdalen College School issued 147 suspensions, 10.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Magdalen College School are Waynflete Infants' School (under 0.1 miles), Brackley Church of England Junior School (0.2 miles), Bracken Leas Primary School (0.6 miles) and The Radstone Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.