Oswestry School, Oswestry
Oswestry School is an independent school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Oswestry. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Oswestry School in detail
Oswestry School in its own words
In its own words: "Oswestry School has a proud history and heritage stretching back over 615 years. We are unique, confident to be different, and pride ourselves on the multifarious ways in which we successfully prepare our pupils for life whether in academic learning , co-curricular opportunities or in our pastoral support ."
From the headteacher's welcome: "The poet WB Yeats once said that "education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire". At Oswestry School, we are firmly committed to providing that kindling with a distinctive whole-person education that seeks to enable our pupils to thrive, flourish, and find their forte."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include swimming, cooking, philosophy and forest school.
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026, an open day on Wednesday 25 November 2026, an open day on Friday 27 November 2026 at 9.30am and an open day on Saturday 17 April 2027 at 10am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Shropshire
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Oswestry School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Where pupils go next
Of the 57 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 56% went on to university or other higher education and 7% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 134 pupils (29.3%) received SEN support and 15 (3.3%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gobowen Rail Station, about 2.8 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is No. 12 (opposite), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 117 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 Shropshire (10), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); 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
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
16 April 2024
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
15 June 2021
Regulatory Compliance
27 February 2019
Integrated
26 January 2016
About
Oswestry School is an ancient public school, located in Oswestry, Shropshire, England. It was founded in 1407 as a 'free' school, being independent of the church.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Oswestry School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 3 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby all-through schools
Latest from Oswestry School
A fantastic start in golf for Percy - News
2 Oct 2026
Oswestry School Golfers shine at Northern Schools Cup - News
2 Oct 2026
Cricket success and volunteering recognised - News
2 Oct 2026
From Oswestry School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Oswestry School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 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
80%
Available places
458 pupils
570 places
112 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Oswestry
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Oswestry
Across Shropshire council
Places available
3,213
Applications
2,845
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All secondary applications across Shropshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
134
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
32.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
458
Total Pupils
255
Boys
203
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Oswestry School
What are GCSE results like at Oswestry School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Oswestry School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Oswestry School last inspected?
Oswestry School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2024.
How many pupils go to Oswestry School?
Oswestry School has around 458 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Oswestry School?
Oswestry School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Oswestry School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 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 Shropshire is 1 (the median across 187 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Oswestry School?
Oswestry School is at Upper Brook Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 2TL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)