Ages 
Didcot Girls’ School is a pioneering success story of comprehensive all-girls education where challenge, curiosity and achievement are in the very air the girls breathe. The ethos promotes resilience, responsibility and self-belief. Caring, dynamic teachers are academically ambitious for each child and go the extra mile(s) to make learning burst to life. The best advocates for DGS are the girls themselves who buzz with drive and enthusiasm. DGS prepares them not just for life, but also leadership. Those glass ceilings don’t stand a chance.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,643 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 244 ·
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Area guides
- Linked schools
Headteacher
Headteacher
Sarah Roberts & Martha Hawes
Since September 2025, co-heads Sarah Roberts and Martha Hawes, both former deputy heads at the school. Miss Roberts has an MSc in teaching and learning from Oxford, having read English there. A training placement at the school led her to apply for a
Entrance
Non-selective and mixed ability but results are high (and climbing). DGS is consistently on the Oxfordshire state school leaderboard. Due to Didcot’s exponential expansion (fast train to Paddington makes it v commutable), the catchment is small and
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Post-GCSE, those that leave go mostly to colleges offering a different educational model or into the workplace. Almost 40 per cent of sixth formers to Russell Group universities. Head of sixth form tell us that many more could go but instead opt for
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2025, 45 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 72 per cent 9-4 in both maths and English. At A level, 35 per cent A*/A.
GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Students tell us their teachers are ‘excited to share their love of their subject with us and don’t lose sight of the fact that learning can be fun’. Bonhomie clearly evident among the staff, perhaps one of the reason DGS doesn’t suffer from the
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Strong commitment to supporting and understanding pupils with the full range of additional needs. Though many more are monitored, 14.6 per cent of pupils are on the SEND register and 16.2 per cent of pupils have EAL and have tailored-support plans
Arts & extracurricular
With so much fizz around STEM, you’d be forgiven for wondering if the arts take a back seat, but not so. Music is encouraged for all, as much for the holistic and community benefit as for individual mastery. All students in year 7 experiment with a
Sport
A carousel of sports including netball, hockey, badminton, athletics and rounders are taught at KS3 (two per half term) but girls also play rugby, cricket and football. One student plays for England youth football team – a Lioness, no less. And the
Ethos & heritage
DGS is Oxfordshire’s only all girls comprehensive school. Soon to be celebrating its 50th birthday (party planning is underway), the school was created by the merger in the 1970s of the former St Frideswide’s secondary modern school and adjacent
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
We saw a high standard of behaviour, but when those high standards aren’t met there’s clearly defined progressive scale of reprimand with communication home. One parent said, ‘Of course some classes are more animated than others but generally it’s
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Phones are not allowed to be used on school site. They should be off and out of sight during the school day. Phones are confiscated if they are seen by staff.
Pupils & parents
Ambitious for themselves and the school, Didcot girls are motivated go-getters, both for themselves as individuals and as team members. One teacher spoke of the ‘ambitiously curious’ pupil body who come to school with the desire and determination to
The last word
Didcot Girls’ School is a pioneering success story of comprehensive all-girls education where challenge, curiosity and achievement are in the very air the girls breathe. The ethos promotes resilience, responsibility and self-belief. Caring, dynamic
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Short inspection: Outstanding
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Sixth form provision | Good |
