Wykham Park Review 2026: A Banbury secondary with a notably strong sixth form track record

Wykham Park sits in a category many families actively seek, a mainstream, mixed secondary with post 16, rooted in clear values around kindness, community and inclusivity, and run as part of Aspirations Academies Trust. The leadership picture has also shifted recently, with Carly Berry confirmed as Principal and part of the Banbury Aspirations Campus leadership team.

The latest Ofsted inspection (12 and 13 September 2023) confirmed the school remains Good and that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Academically, the headline from the data is a mixed profile, GCSE outcomes sit below many comparators, while the post 16 picture is closer to the England middle range. In FindMySchool’s GCSE ranking (based on official data), Wykham Park is ranked 3,395th in England and 8th in Banbury. For A-level outcomes, it is ranked 1,506th in England and 7th in Banbury. This is a school where the overall experience and fit matter, especially for students who benefit from strong routines, clear behaviour expectations, and practical pathways alongside academic courses.

The school’s own language about culture is unusually direct, it emphasises high standards, strong working relationships, and a community identity built around kindness and inclusivity. That combination can feel grounding for many students, particularly those who like predictable expectations and a sense of belonging that does not rely on selection or niche specialism.

The 2023 inspection evidence aligns with that broad picture. Pupils were described as generally enjoying school, behaving politely, and understanding the school’s values, with disruption to learning reported as rare. Bullying was acknowledged as something that can occur occasionally, with staff response presented as swift and effective.

Leadership and direction are central to how the school currently presents itself. In January 2024, the trust announced new joint leadership across the Banbury Aspirations Campus, including Carly Berry, with her prior experience spanning senior leadership since 2015 and earlier responsibility for sixth form leadership.

For parents, this matters because it signals a school that is still in a phase of development and consolidation, rather than one that presents itself as finished and settled. The practical implication is that families should pay attention to how consistent systems feel, especially around attendance, behaviour routines, and learning support.

At GCSE level, the performance indicators point to challenge. The average Attainment 8 score is 34.7, and Progress 8 is -0.65, which indicates students, on average, make less progress than similar pupils nationally from their starting points. EBacc measures are also low with 8.2% achieving grade 5 or above in the EBacc and an EBacc average point score of 3.32, compared with an England average EBacc APS of 4.08.

The FindMySchool GCSE ranking places Wykham Park at 3,395th in England and 8th in Banbury for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This sits within the below-England-average banding used meaning outcomes are weaker than the majority of secondary schools in England.

At post 16, the picture is more balanced. The FindMySchool A-level ranking places Wykham Park at 1,506th in England and 7th in Banbury (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). The share of grades at A-star to B is 43.86%, versus an England average of 47.2%, while A-star to A is 13.16% versus an England average of 23.6%. That gap suggests that the sixth form outcomes are closer to typical national patterns than the GCSE profile, but still not yet at the level the strongest sixth forms achieve.

It is worth adding one historical, but still relevant, marker. In the 2018 graded inspection for the predecessor name, the 16 to 19 study programmes judgement was Outstanding.

That does not override more recent performance data, but it does help explain why the school continues to place emphasis on sixth form pathways and structured post 16 provision.

The school frames its curriculum as broad, with an explicit emphasis on mastering knowledge and skills alongside applied learning, designed to support both academic routes and preparation for work.

External evidence reinforces some helpful specifics. The 2023 inspection describes an ambitious, well sequenced curriculum designed to build knowledge from Year 7 through Year 13, with a strong reading focus for those at earlier stages, and staff training supported through trust-wide collaboration.

The key implication here is that the curriculum intent is not the weak point. For many families, the practical question is consistency, whether expectations land evenly across classes, and whether attendance and engagement issues, which the inspection flags as an improvement priority, are being contained in day-to-day practice.

In sixth form, the offer is designed to be more than subject study alone. The Banbury Aspirations Campus prospectus describes a structured post 16 programme with monitoring, termly assessments, and planned support around next steps, including UCAS guidance and support for Oxford and Cambridge style applications (as preparation rather than as an outcomes claim).

Entry expectations are also clear, students are typically expected to have at least five grade 5s at GCSE (or equivalent), including English and Maths, plus subject-specific requirements for chosen Level 3 courses.

Where Students Go Next

The school does not publish a detailed Russell Group or Oxbridge outcomes count in the materials reviewed, so the most reliable destinations indicator available is the DfE leaver destinations data supplied.

For the 2023 to 2024 cohort (cohort size 26), 65% progressed to university, 4% to apprenticeships, and 15% to employment. These figures do not capture the full range of routes and may not sum to 100% due to categorisation and suppression rules, but they do provide a clear directional picture.

For families assessing fit, the key question is how well the school supports varied pathways, not only traditional university routes, but also apprenticeships and employment readiness. The sixth form programme is explicitly structured around employability and professional skills alongside A-level study, including the Aspirations Employability Diploma, which uses project work with external employers and focuses on transferable skills and career planning.

A distinctive enrichment example is the long-running NASA trips programme described on the school site, including a selection process that looks beyond academic performance and incorporates communication and interview technique, plus a strong emphasis on documenting learning and sharing it back through community outreach activities.

For the right student, this kind of high-commitment experience can be a genuine confidence-builder and a tangible differentiator in personal statements or interviews. For others, it may feel like an optional extra rather than a priority, which is why it is useful to ask how participation is supported, funded, and scheduled.

Wykham Park is a state-funded school, there are no tuition fees. The core Year 7 admissions route is the Oxfordshire County Council coordinated process. For September 2026 entry, Oxfordshire’s published timetable sets out that applications open on 12 September 2025, the closing date is 31 October 2025, and national offer day is 2 March 2026, with a deadline to respond by 16 March 2026.

For in-year applications, and for families considering a move mid-secondary, the school directs families to contact the admissions team and indicates that visits and tours are available.

The practical implication is straightforward, Year 7 entry is primarily an LA process, while in-year entry tends to rely on availability and the school’s own handling of transitions.

Sixth form entry is described as open application during the Autumn and Spring term before the September start, with applications submitted directly. The school also emphasises that students should check course entry requirements carefully.

Because exact sixth form deadlines for September 2026 were not published clearly on the pages reviewed, families should use the school’s sixth form application page and prospectus as the live reference point, and apply early if specific subjects are in demand.

A practical tip for shortlisting is to use FindMySchool’s Map Search to compare realistic travel time from your home to likely gate times and to test multiple routes. This is often more decision-relevant than raw distance for secondary families.

Pastoral structures are described in a way that will feel familiar to many state secondary families, mentors as the first point of contact, plus escalation through heads of college, and a named welfare manager for safeguarding support.

The safeguarding picture has two layers of evidence. The 2023 Ofsted inspection confirms effective safeguarding arrangements, and the school’s own safeguarding information sets out clear internal routes for raising concerns.

The practical implication is that families should expect a school that treats safeguarding and student support as formal systems, not informal goodwill, which is particularly important for students who need consistent adults and predictable escalation pathways.

Attendance is the main stated improvement priority in the 2023 inspection report, with concern focused on pupils whose irregular attendance creates gaps in learning.

For parents, this is a useful lens for asking questions on visits, how is attendance monitored, how quickly is support triggered, and what does catch-up look like for students returning from sustained absence.

One advantage of a large secondary with sixth form is breadth, and Wykham Park’s published clubs list, while dated, gives a sense of the type of enrichment the school runs.

The example set includes Astronomy Club, Eco Committee, Pride, Manga Club (library-based), Newspaper Club (with cross-campus participation), and School Production, alongside homework support via the library.

For a student who builds confidence through identity and interest-based groups, the implication is positive, there are routes into belonging that are not solely sport-based.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is another strong signal of structured personal development. The school describes it as a route to new experiences and skills valued by colleges, universities and employers, with clear sections around volunteering, skills, and physical activity.

This matters because it creates a coherent framework for students who thrive with external goals and staged achievement rather than purely internal motivation.

At sixth form level, two distinctive programmes stand out in the published materials. The Aspirations Employability Diploma runs alongside A-levels and is framed around employer-linked projects and professional skills development, including reflection through the RAR model (Review, Analyse, Reflect).

The NASA trips programme is framed as a flagship enrichment pathway, involving industry exposure and a requirement to share learning back through assemblies and workshops.

For students interested in STEM-related futures, these opportunities can add real texture to applications, provided participation is realistic for the family in terms of time and cost.

The school day is clearly set out. Students are expected in school at 8:40am, with mentor time from 8:45am to 9:10am, and the main day running through to 3:05pm, with Period 6 on certain days for certain groups.

The school runs a breakfast club, which is a meaningful practical support for working families and for students who benefit from a calmer start.

For transport planning, families should focus on realistic door-to-door time across the full week, especially if a student will attend after-school clubs or Period 6 sessions. Using a saved shortlist and comparing travel scenarios across local alternatives is often the fastest way to reduce decision risk.

• GCSE outcomes are a key watch point. The Progress 8 score of -0.65 indicates that, on average, pupils make less progress than similar pupils nationally. Families should ask what targeted academic support looks like in Years 10 and 11, and how consistently it is applied across subjects.

• Attendance is highlighted as the main improvement priority. The 2023 inspection identifies irregular attendance for some pupils as a barrier that creates gaps in learning. Parents of students who are prone to anxiety or disengagement should ask how early support is triggered and what reintegration plans look like.

• Extracurricular information can be out of date. The published clubs page lists activities from early 2022. The range is encouraging, but families should check the current term’s programme and how students are encouraged to join.

• Sixth form entry is conditional. The typical expectation is five grade 5s including English and Maths plus subject-specific requirements. This is sensible, but it means students should plan Year 11 choices and targets with post 16 entry firmly in mind.

Wykham Park is best understood as a mainstream, community-facing secondary where the quality of the experience depends on consistency, engagement, and the match between a student’s needs and the school’s systems. Its sixth form has credible foundations, including a historically outstanding post 16 judgement and a clearly structured employability and enrichment offer, while GCSE performance indicators suggest families should ask hard questions about progress and exam readiness.

Who it suits: students who respond well to clear routines and pastoral structures, and those who benefit from practical, employer-facing opportunities alongside A-level study. For families choosing a school primarily on GCSE performance, it is important to look closely at support, attendance culture, and subject-level improvement work before committing.