Matthew Arnold School, Oxford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Matthew Arnold School offers a broad, ambitious curriculum taught by teachers with strong subject knowledge. The school excels at supporting all learners, particularly those with additional needs or who are disadvantaged. Pupils enjoy a welcoming environment with excellent pastoral care, high behaviour standards, and plenty of opportunities to develop outside the classroom through clubs and mentoring.
Key Strengths
- Carefully sequenced curriculum with expert subject knowledge from teachers - pupils learn well and produce high-quality work
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, identifying needs promptly and providing adaptations that help them learn alongside peers
- Strong reading support - effective checking of fluency on entry and targeted help for struggling readers means most become confident, fluent readers
- Improved attendance through active monitoring and working with families to overcome barriers
- Wide range of enrichment activities including clubs and Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Areas for Improvement
- Some lessons do not use teaching approaches consistently, meaning some pupils do not achieve as well as they could
- PSHE curriculum is not taught consistently across all year groups, so pupils do not retain knowledge or develop understanding as intended
- Not all systems for checking pupils' learning are used effectively in every lesson
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders and staff creating an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Netball, lacrosse, performing arts, dungeons and dragons, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, student leadership committees, charity events, peer mentoring, careers fairs, university visits, work experience
Matthew Arnold School is a welcoming secondary school where pupils enjoy learning and benefit from positive relationships with staff and peers. The school has an ambitious curriculum for all pupils and maintains high behaviour expectations.
At a Glance
13.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
182 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
22.3
Avg class size
49
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
103%
Over capacity
1,255 pupils
1,220 capacity
35 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Oxford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Oxford
Admissions Demand - Oxfordshire
Places available
7,684
Applications
6,969
Got 1st preference
87.5%
Got preferred school
96.5%
Secondary admissions across Oxfordshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(4)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.18212%
Overall absence
22.03065%
Persistent absence
1,044
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Matthew Arnold School
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