Ages 
It turns out that there are more Europhiles in south Oxfordshire than we realised; and they’ve taken refuge here at Europa, a rather idyllic community where flags-of-the-world bunting and croissants in the canteen ensure that everybody feels at home. Brexit Britain is not an easy landscape and funding challenges are real, but that makes the work they’re doing here all the more admirable, keeping languages alive when they’re dying elsewhere and providing an alternative curriculum for those that seek it. It’s not the easiest or most user-friendly answer to your child’s schooling, but for those that see the benefits it’s a dream.
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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,154 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 107 ·
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Principal
Mrs Lynn Wood
Since 2018, Lynn Wood, previously deputy director of European School Culham, Europa’s predecessor. Attended a Yorkshire convent school before getting a first in electrical engineering at Imperial and spending ten years as a research engineer. ‘As an
Entrance
Entry from reception to year 11 via county admissions. Ninety per cent of year 7s come from the primary. Three nodal points (Culham, central Oxford and Grove near Wantage) form the catchment areas. Those joining sixth form don’t need languages to a
- Open days
- Visit the website for details
Exit
Natural churn (‘my friends have mainly gone to Strasbourg and the Hague’) though up to a quarter leave after year 11 too. School hopes to improve retention with new sixth form facilities and growing IB track record. Bath, Edinburgh, Exeter,
Latest results
In 2025, 52 per cent grade 6-7 at MYP (equivalent to 9-7 at GCSE); 88 per cent achieved a ‘high passing grade’ in maths and English (equivalent to 9-5 at GCSE). IB Diploma average point score of 34.
Results data - % of pupils meeting expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2024)
% of pupils meeting expected standard
Pupils are meeting the expected standard if they achieve a scaled score of 100 or more in their reading and maths tests, and their teacher assesses them as 'working at the expected standard' or better in writing.
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 levels or equivalent - 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
A bilingual IB state school? ‘¡Maravilloso!’ we hear you cry, ‘Fantastisch!’ It’s indeed a very rare beast. IB curriculum throughout secondary – nobody does GCSEs or A levels here because they follow the Middle Year Programme (MYP) from years 7 to 11
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- IB
Learning support & SEN
Smaller than average SEN numbers, with almost 11 per cent on the register. Lower secondary school off timetable on a Wednesday afternoon (très Européen), when ‘a lot of learning support happens’. Bilingual learning can be very challenging for a
Arts & extracurricular
‘Music is definitely a big thing here,’ pupils told us, excited about the music soirée that evening. We watched a lively classroom music lesson, students singing and drumming on their knees, faster and faster and louder and louder as they galloped
Sport
Not huge on the traditional team sports, unsurprisingly given the small numbers in the secondary school; Europa Titans FC get out and about with fixtures in the area and training on a Saturday and students were informally kicking a football around at
Ethos & heritage
On the road from Culham to the science centre, you’ll pass Europa’s Victorian frontage, distinctive for its perky, bright blue window frames and pretty lawns. Inside, vaulted ceilings, Gothic windows, black-painted beams and flagstone floors give the
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
With a small secondary community comes a natural informality, setting the tone for lots of the interactions that we saw. ‘That’s my best friend doing her piano lesson!’ one of our guides exclaimed, before knocking on the little window and waving. The
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 Primary - phones are banned Year 7 to 11 - Europa has a “not seen, not heard” policy. If a student is found with their phone visible or audible at any point in the school day, it will be confiscated and a parent must collect the phone from the school.
Sixth Form - allowed in specific areas of the school only.
Pupils & parents
Three different catchment areas; not a practical option for many, though with 12 school buses parents don’t need to worry about driving them in. ‘My friends live far away, we meet up in Abingdon or Oxford,’ one pupil said. It means that parents here
Money matters
Bilingual IB system is not straightforward to run and the school has suffered massive upheaval since Brexit, in part due to the loss of its European Commission funding. School currently suggests a voluntary donation of £365 per year.
The last word
It turns out that there are more Europhiles in south Oxfordshire than we realised; and they’ve taken refuge here at Europa, a rather idyllic community where flags-of-the-world bunting and croissants in the canteen ensure that everybody feels at home.
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection: Good
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Personal development | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
| Early years provision | Outstanding |
Full inspection: Good
| Leadership and management | Good |
|---|---|
| Sixth form provision | Good |
| Early years provision | Good |
