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Best secondary schools in Oxford
Best secondary schools in Banbury and Bicester
Best secondary schools in west Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire’s secondary schools are all comprehensive. Siblings always trump; attending a feeder primary or living in catchment helps. If you don’t tick any boxes you’re still in with a chance, because many end up taking some pupils based on distance from school to home. Check how places were allocated in recent years on the Council’s website, which is (quite) user-friendly. Be aware that for Catholic secondary schools (Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Greyfriars Catholic School) you will need a baptism certificate; there is no similar requirement for Church of England secondary schools, where faith is not one of the admissions criteria. Our article on secondary school admissions is recommended reading to anyone researching these schools.
Secondary schools in Oxford
Oxford has many selling points when it comes to education but its state secondaries are not among them. Those who can scrape together the fees or apply for means-tested bursaries to go private. The Cherwell School is ‘state school of choice to the great and good of Oxford’s academic and medical set’, according to our reviewer, though even living in catchment does not guarantee a place. Pressure should be eased by the arrival of The Swan School, part of the same trust, but without GCSE results yet, this requires a leap of faith. Headington families look at Cheney School; if you’re right on the edge of town you could consider Wheatley Park School, covered in our ‘South Oxfordshire’ guide. In the Botley area, Matthew Arnold School is well thought of, and you may be able to pick up Bartholomew, too (see above).
Best state primary schools in Oxford
Best private schools in Oxford
Secondary schools: near Banbury and Bicester
The Warriner School, on the edge of Bloxham, has a catchment which wiggles around Banbury, picking up surrounding villages. We spoke to parents who were unsure whether the school is as super-duper as it once was, but around here it’s the natural choice. Chipping Norton School has good pastoral care.
Grammar schools near Banbury and Bicester
There are no grammar schools in Oxfordshire itself but North and west of Banbury you’re in the ‘Southern Priority Circle’ for Warwickshire grammars, which require high scores in the 11+ test before a council application. Boys at King Edward VI School (KES) are ‘busy, purposeful, happy’, exhibiting ‘kindness and exemplary manners’, says our review; Stratford Girls Grammar School shows girls that ‘the world is their oyster’. We wonder if KES alumnus William Shakespeare ever went to the joint school discos?
Those Buckinghamshire-way could look at Royal Latin School, requiring high scores in their Secondary Transfer Test before applying through the council. See our guide to South Oxfordshire if you’re serious about pursuing grammars, because you’d be better off towards Thame, or, even better, our guide to Buckinghamshire itself…
Best state primary schools in Banbury and Bicester
Best private schools in Banbury and Bicester
Best nurseries in Banbury and Bicester
Secondary schools in west Oxfordshire
You’ve got Chipping Norton School, (see above), whose designated area stretches from Kingham to the Bartons – and you should get in from about four miles outside it. Live in catchment for Bartholomew School, in Eynsham, which is well thought of and more villagey than nearby Witney schools. Burford School offers ‘a bedrock academic education and an ever-evolving creative experience’, according to our reviewer (and boarding – see Oxfordshire boarding schools). The Cotswold School is also worth a shot – children hop on buses from Chipping Norton, Charlbury, Hook Norton – though you won’t fall within the priority catchment unless you live in Gloucestershire.
Best state primary schools in west Oxfordshire
Best private schools in west Oxfordshire
Best nurseries in west Oxfordshire
State secondary schools for children with special educational needs in Oxford and north Oxfordshire
All of these start at primary level – see Oxford and North Oxfordshire Primary Schools
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