The Bicester School is a secondary school in Bicester, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy sponsor led and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
The Bicester School currently has around 1198 pupils on roll, which is about 84% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 47.7% boys and 52.3% girls. Around 16.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 8.8%. Persistent absence is recorded at 23.7%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (72.9%).
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 95% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (86%) , including 48% who stay in school sixth forms and 39% progressing to further education , while 3% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Queen's Avenue, Bicester, OX26 2NS |
| Website: | www.thebicesterschool.org.uk |
| Telephone: | 01869243331 |
| School Type: | Academy sponsor led |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Oxfordshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mrs Sam Knowlton |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 142024 |
Ofsted inspection date: 12/03/2024
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1430 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1198 |
| Number of Boys: | 572 |
| Number of Girls: | 626 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 8.8% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 23.7% | 8.2% |
| White British | 72.90% | 873 |
| Other White | 7.10% | 85 |
| Other Mixed | 3.50% | 42 |
| Other Asian | 2.90% | 35 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 2.80% | 33 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.80% | 22 |
| White and Asian | 1.80% | 21 |
| African | 1.60% | 19 |
| White and Black African | 1.30% | 15 |
| Unclassified | 1.20% | 14 |
| Indian | 0.80% | 10 |
| Chinese | 0.80% | 10 |
| Caribbean | 0.40% | 5 |
| Other Black | 0.40% | 5 |
| Pakistani | 0.30% | 4 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.30% | 3 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.20% | 2 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longfields Nursery School Longfields , OX26 6QL | - not rated | 1,052 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Glory Farm Nursery School Churchill Road , OX26 4YJ | - not rated | 1,785 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bicester Queen's Avenue , OX26 2NX | 3out of 4 | 203 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bicester Queen's Avenue , OX26 2NX | - not rated | 203 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Brookside Primary School Bucknell Road , OX26 2DB | - not rated | 266 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| King's Meadow Primary School Shakespeare Drive , OX26 2LU | 3out of 4 | 1,002 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Longfields Primary and Nursery School Longfields , OX26 6QL | 3out of 4 | 1,052 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Bicester School Queen's Avenue , OX26 2NS | 3out of 4 | 0 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bicester Community College Queen's Avenue , OX26 2NS | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Bicester Technology Studio Queens Avenue , OX26 2NS | - not rated | 23 yd | Studio schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Cooper School Churchill Road , OX26 4RS | - not rated | 1,486 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Cooper School Churchill Road , OX26 4RS | - not rated | 1,486 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bicester & Kidlington PRU Queens Street , South Cherwell Resources Centre OX26 2NR | - not rated | 319 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bardwell School Hendon Place , Sunderland Drive OX26 4RZ | - not rated | 1,825 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bardwell School Hendon Place , Sunderland Drive OX26 4RZ | 3out of 4 | 1,825 yd | Academy special converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Bruern Abbey School Chesterton Manor , Chesterton OX26 1UY | - not rated | 2,426 yd | Other independent school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Audley House Preparatory School Chesterton , OX26 1UZ | - not rated | 2,462 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.