Matthew Arnold School, Oxford

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am very pleased to introduce myself as Headteacher here at Matthew Arnold School. I have been part of the school community since 2013 as Deputy Head and 2021 as Headteacher as well as a parent of children at the school."

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

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 18 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026 and an open evening on Wednesday 25 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Matthew Arnold School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Oxfordshire and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Oxfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 56.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.18: pupils made 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 30.7, against 51.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 20.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

For September 2026 entry, 141 families put Matthew Arnold School as their first choice and 362 named it as one of their preferences, for 192 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Matthew Arnold School are The Cherwell School (3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 58.9); Greyfriars Catholic School (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.7); The Swan School (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 60.1); and Cheney School (3.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47).

Matthew Arnold School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Matthew Arnold School is one of 9 schools run by Acer Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.2 in 2024/25.

182 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Matthew Arnold School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 48% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (48%).

Of the 210 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 28% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 141 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 38% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 41% into work. 34% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

11.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 243 pupils (19.4%) received SEN support and 37 (2.9%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Oxford Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Matthew Arnold School (opposite), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Matthew Arnold School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Matthew Arnold School issued 125 suspensions, 10 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Matthew Arnold School are North Hinksey Church of England Primary School (0.8 miles), Botley School (0.8 miles), West Oxford Community Primary School (1.3 miles) and Cumnor Church of England School (Voluntary Controlled) (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.