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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 142024

The Bicester School

Academy sponsor led · Bicester · OX26 2NS

Ages 11–18 · 1,176 pupils · Oxfordshire

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

45.4

Overall absence

8.8%

Admissions demand

0.85 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2024-03-12

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.16
−20+2
Attainment 845.4
English & maths grade 5+41%
English & maths grade 4+66%
EBacc entry43%

EBacc APS: 4.1

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence8.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)23.7%
Unauthorised3.3%
Authorised absence
5.5%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.5%
Enrolments in measure
1,112

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.85 · Often has places

1st preferences

141

Places offered

174

1st-preference offers

141

Total preferences (any rank)
357
Preferred offers (top 3)
167
Applications from outside LA
4
Offers to outside-LA applicants
2
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill82%

1,176 pupils · 1,430 places

Pupils on roll
1,176
Boys / girls
561 / 615
School capacity
1,430
Capacity fill
1,176 / 1,430 (82%)
Free school meals
17.7%
FSM pupils
169
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: ACTIVATE LEARNING EDUCATION TRUST
Academy trust
ACTIVATE LEARNING EDUCATION TRUST
Sponsor
Activate Learning Education Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Sam Knowlton

Location

Address
Queen's Avenue
Postcode
OX26 2NS
Town
Bicester
County
Oxfordshire
Local authority
Oxfordshire
District
Cherwell
Constituency
Bicester and Woodstock
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Bicester, Oxfordshire, 1,176 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 17.7%.

Open schools in Bicester
23
Secondary schools in Bicester
3
Academies among open schools in Bicester
39% (9)
Open schools in OX26
16
Secondary in OX26
3
Open schools in Oxfordshire LA
371
Secondary in Oxfordshire LA
39

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BicesterNear OX26

  • The Cooper School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bicester · OX26 4RS · Oxfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att844.6
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence8.4%

    0.8 miles away

  • Whitelands Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Bicester · OX26 1AY · Oxfordshire

    Ages 11–16

    • Absence9.7%
    • FSM19.9%
    • Demand1.35

    0.8 miles away

  • Brookside Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Primary

    Bicester · OX26 2DB · Oxfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS268%
    • Absence4.4%
    • FSM21.8%
    • Demand0.89

    0.2 miles away

  • King's Meadow Primary School

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Community school · Primary

    Bicester · OX26 2LU · Oxfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS260%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM11.2%
    • Demand0.95

    0.6 miles away

  • Longfields Primary and Nursery School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bicester · OX26 6QL · Oxfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS233%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM21.1%
    • Demand1.00

    0.6 miles away

  • Bure Park Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bicester · OX26 3BP · Oxfordshire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS255%
    • Absence4.8%
    • FSM7.4%
    • Demand0.97

    0.6 miles away

  • St Edburg's Church of England (VA) School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Bicester · OX26 1BF · Oxfordshire

    Ages 2–11

    • KS273%
    • Absence5.1%
    • FSM15.4%
    • Demand1.24

    0.7 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Sam Knowlton
Telephone
01869243331
Website
www.thebicesterschool.org.uk

Official links