The Swan School, Oxford

In its own words: "We believe that students should leave The Swan School having achieved more than they ever believed possible, and with the qualifications, skills, and confidence to achieve even more in the future. We also believe they should leave with happy memories, plenty of friends and a sense of responsibility for their community."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Kay Wood - Headteacher Our vision is to work with the local community and exceptional establishments in Oxford and around the world to build a truly outstanding school where every single child can achieve his or her potential."

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 12 January 2027, an open evening on Wednesday 13 January 2027 and an open day on Friday 29 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at The Swan School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 60.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Oxfordshire and 47 across England.

73% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Oxfordshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 55.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.55: pupils made well 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 42, against 65.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 23.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were French, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 165 families put The Swan School as their first choice and 765 named it as one of their preferences, for 175 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 47 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to The Swan School are The Cherwell School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 58.9); Cheney School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47); Oxford Spires Academy (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.7); and Greyfriars Catholic School (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.7).

The Swan School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

The Swan School 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.

Of the 122 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 21% to a further education college and 3% into work.

Of the 33 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 6% to apprenticeships and 30% into work. 30% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

30.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (33%), Asian (19%) and Mixed (16%).

The nearest railway station is Oxford Rail Station, about 1.8 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Nicholas School (outside), 270 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Swan 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, The Swan School issued 187 suspensions, 19.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to The Swan School are St Nicholas' Primary and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles); New Marston Primary School (0.6 miles); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Oxford (0.7 miles); and St Michael's CofE Primary School, Oxford City (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.