Oldfield School Review 2026: A Popular Choice in Bath

Sitting high on the northern slopes of Bath with commanding views over the Kelston Roundhill, Oldfield School offers a distinct alternative to the city’s independent sector and faith schools. Once a girls' grammar and later a girls' comprehensive, the school has been fully co-educational since 2012. It serves 1,100 students with an ethos that balances pastoral care with steady academic progress.

The campus is a mix of the historic and the functional, anchored by Penn House and expanded with modern blocks like the Hemmings building for science. The setting is spacious, feeling almost semi-rural despite being minutes from Weston village.

Mr Andy Greenhough has led the school since September 2021. His leadership focuses on maintaining what inspectors described in 2025 as a calm and orderly environment where students feel safe. The school operates a House system—Apollo, Maia, Minerva, and Neptune—which provides the framework for competition and pastoral support.

The transition to co-education is long settled; the culture today is inclusive and mixed. Students wear a smart blazer-based uniform and move purposefully between lessons. The Oldfield Voice student council ensures that student opinions feed into school decisions, reinforcing a sense of community ownership.

In 2024, Oldfield’s performance sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (national typical). The school achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.4, slightly above the England average of 45.9.

Ranked 1,921st in England and 10th in Bath for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), the school delivers solid results. Crucially, 15.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), reflecting a curriculum that retains breadth rather than funnelling students purely into performance measures.

The curriculum is broad, organised into two-week cycles. Key Stage 3 covers three years (Years 7-9), allowing students time to explore subjects like Drama, Music, and Design Technology before specialising. Spanish is the core modern language, with French introduced in Year 8 for some.

Teaching is structured and consistent. The 2025 Ofsted inspection noted that leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum, though consistency in assessment remains a focus area. Support for SEND students is integrated into the classroom, with the Learning Support team working closely with subject teachers.

The Sixth Form is a growing strength, ranking 1,386th in England and 10th in Bath for A-level outcomes. Results in 2024 showed 46% of grades at A*-B, with just under 5% at A*.

Students can choose from over 20 A-level subjects, alongside vocational options like Criminology and Health & Social Care. The Sixth Form Centre provides dedicated study space, bridging the gap between school and university. Small class sizes in Year 12 and 13 allow for personalised support, evidenced by the fact that nearly half of all grades are B or higher.

In 2024, 58% of leavers progressed to university. The school has a functional pipeline to elite institutions; in the most recent cycle, one student secured a place at Cambridge.

Employment and apprenticeships are also viable routes, with 25% of the cohort entering employment and 7% starting apprenticeships. This diversity of destinations reflects a careers programme that values vocational success alongside traditional academic routes.

Oldfield is an academy and manages its own admissions in coordination with Bath and North East Somerset Council. It is significantly oversubscribed. In the most recent intake, the school received 640 applications for just over 200 places, a ratio of more than 3 applications per seat.

The school prioritises children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) and Looked After Children. Following this, priority is given to siblings and then children living within the Area of Prime Responsibility (APR). The APR covers a specific geographic zone in north and west Bath.

Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Families living outside the APR or on its fringes should be realistic about their chances.

Pastoral care is organised through the House system and year groups. Tutors stay with their form groups as they move up the school, providing continuity. The Hub offers a sanctuary for students needing emotional support or time out from the bustle of the main school.

Official reports note that bullying is rare and dealt with effectively when it occurs. The school uses a restorative justice approach to behaviour, encouraging students to take responsibility for their actions rather than relying solely on sanctions.

Extracurricular life is active, particularly in sport and outdoor education. The Ten Tors challenge and the Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze to Gold) are major pillars, with high participation rates.

The PE department utilises the sports hall, dance studio, and extensive playing fields for clubs ranging from netball and rugby to badminton and dance. The Arts are well represented, with a school orchestra, choir, and annual drama productions that utilise the school's hall and drama studios.

The school day runs from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Located on Kelston Road, the school is served by several dedicated school buses covering routes from Keynsham, Saltford, and central Bath. There is limited parking on site for parents; most students travel by bus or walk.

Oversubscription: With over three applicants for every place, securing entry is the primary hurdle. Families outside the Area of Prime Responsibility often struggle to gain a place unless they have sibling priority.

Site Topography: The campus is built on a steep hill. Moving between lessons involves slopes and stairs, which may be a consideration for students with limited mobility.

Mixed Ability Intake: As a comprehensive in a city with private and faith schools, the intake is truly mixed ability. High-flying academic students will find peers here, but they will be part of a broader social mix than in a selective grammar.

Oldfield School offers a grounded, supportive, and increasingly successful education. It balances the calm and orderly atmosphere praised by inspectors with enough extracurricular spark to keep students engaged. Best suited to local families seeking a co-educational comprehensive that values character as much as exam grades. The main challenge is securing a place.