The Oxford Academy, Oxford

Ofsted's report card from its 10 March 2026 inspection grades The Oxford Academy on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders are committed to understanding the diverse needs of pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders at all levels, and those responsible for governance, share a detailed and accurate understanding of the school's position."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils' wider education, including disadvantaged pupils, is systematic."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "The sixth-form curriculum is carefully tailored to students' needs."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Leaders recognise the importance of raising achievement for all pupils."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Too many pupils, including those who are vulnerable, do not attend school as regularly as they should."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "While leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of curriculum and teaching, their actions have not had the desired impact yet."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to increase pupils' rates of attendance, including for those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers use ongoing checks on pupils' learning consistently well and adapt the curriculum to ensure all pupils learn as well as they should"; "Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded across the school, including in the sixth form, so that pupils' achievement increases, including for those who are disadvantaged".

In its own words: "At The Oxford Academy, the vision for our school is 'Enabling All To Flourish.' We live our vision in our daily actions, through our commitments : 'Commitment to Others, Commitment to Learning.' Every single person in our school shapes it. Our daily routines and educational practice are rooted in our three school values: Courage, Curiosity and Compassion ."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a pleasure to welcome you to The Oxford Academy, a school deeply rooted in our vision of 'Enabling All to Flourish'. As Headteacher, I am very proud to serve our students, parents, staff, and community partners. The Oxford Academy is a warm, friendly, and vibrant school built on high expectations for everyone."

In 2026, pupils at The Oxford Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 31.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Oxfordshire and 47 across England.

24% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Oxfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 33.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.72: pupils made well 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 26.9, against 37 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.1 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 92 families put The Oxford Academy as their first choice and 168 named it as one of their preferences, for 138 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 The Oxford Academy are Greyfriars Catholic School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.7); Oxford Spires Academy (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.7); Cheney School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47); and The Swan School (3.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 60.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than The Oxford Academy.

The Oxford Academy is one of 31 schools run by River Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.3 in 2024/25.

64 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Oxford Academy (as of April 2026): 47% would recommend the school, 45% say their child is happy there and 24% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (47%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (24%).

Of the 209 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 35% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 67 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 60% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 2% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

43.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 29.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (46%), Mixed (16%) and Asian (14%).

In 2026, 332 pupils (31.3%) received SEN support and 56 (5.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Radley Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Long Lane (se-bound), 280 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Oxford Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 389 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Oxford Academy issued 306 suspensions, 27.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Oxford Academy are John Henry Newman Academy (0.3 miles); St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, Littlemore (0.3 miles); Church Cowley St James Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles); and Rose Hill Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.