Best secondary schools in Oxford (2026)
Oxford has 7 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is The Cherwell School, in the top 10% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 47.2, against 46.1 for England. 1 are in England's top 10%, and 1 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Oxford has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 10% in England |
The Cherwell School Oxford |
58.6 | 58.3 | 66% | Outstanding | |
2 Top 13% in England |
The Swan School Oxford |
55.5 | 55.4 | 68% | Good | |
3 Top 22% in England |
Matthew Arnold School Oxford |
52.5 | 56.5 | 65% | Not judged | |
4 Top 39% in England |
Oxford Spires Academy Oxford |
47.8 | 46.3 | 50% | Good | |
5 Top 43% in England |
Cheney School Oxford |
47.0 | 46.0 | 49% | No rating | |
6 Bottom 13% in England |
Greyfriars Catholic School Oxford · Roman Catholic |
36.9 | 34.0 | 29% | Good | |
7 Bottom 4% in England |
The Oxford Academy Oxford · Church of England |
33.1 | 33.6 | 21% | Report card |
Other towns in Oxfordshire
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Oxford?
On exam results over the last three years, The Cherwell School is the top-ranked secondary school in Oxford, in the top 10% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.