Waddesdon Church of England School, Aylesbury

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Waddesdon Church of England School on 7 areas: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have a robust and effective strategy in place to ensure that pupils attend well."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The provision for pupils who have barriers to their learning is very effective."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school has a rich and inclusive personal development programme."

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders of the sixth form have developed an ambitious and appropriate curriculum that meets the needs of students."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils progress well through the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The school's curriculum is well sequenced, building on pupils' prior knowledge from Year 7 to Year 13."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school and its context."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers' checking for understanding is consistently embedded across all curriculum areas and that they use the information effectively to address gaps in pupils' learning".

In its own words: "Waddesdon Church of England School is an all-ability 11-18 secondary school with around 1,000 students on roll, including 300 students in the Sixth Form. Our daily routines and educational practice are rooted in the twin values of Dignity and Respect."

From the headteacher's welcome: "“It is a real pleasure to welcome you to Waddesdon Church of England School. We believe that the purpose of education is to enable all people to flourish individually and collectively so that they can live a fulfilling life. As a community, we strive to achieve these aims, believing genuinely and unequivocally in the capacity and potential of every person."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include choir, orchestra, chess, coding, photography, debating, Duke of Edinburgh, book club and homework club.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 10 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Waddesdon Church of England School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 53.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 55 in Buckinghamshire and 47 across England.

57% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 61% in Buckinghamshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 51 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.51: 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 44, against 55 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Art and Design.

For September 2026 entry, 185 families put Waddesdon Church of England School as their first choice and 522 named it as one of their preferences, for 133 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 56 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Waddesdon Church of England School are The Aylesbury Vale Academy (3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42); Aylesbury UTC (4.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 25.5); Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School (4.6 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 74.3); and The Mandeville School (5.5 miles, Attainment 8 38.7).

Waddesdon Church of England School's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

172 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Waddesdon Church of England School (as of April 2026): 94% would recommend the school, 89% say their child is happy there and 81% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (81%).

Of the 140 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 140 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 51% went on to university or other higher education, 4% to apprenticeships and 31% into work. 18% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

10.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (72%), Mixed (7%) and Black (7%).

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

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (adjacent), 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 9 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Buckinghamshire (44).

In 2024/25, Waddesdon Church of England School issued 74 suspensions, 7.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.