The Cooper School Review 2026: Building Momentum Through Change

Set on the northern edge of Bicester, The Cooper School has navigated a period of significant transition. The school became a specialist science college in 2005, converted to academy status in 2014, and recently joined the Acer Trust in early 2024. The latest Ofsted inspection in February 2025 presents a mixed picture: the quality of education is rated Good, and sixth form provision is rated Good, but behaviour and leadership remain areas requiring improvement. For families considering this school, it represents a community comprehensive in transition, where curriculum ambition is rising even as headline results remain below national average.

The school serves just over 1,200 students across Years 7 through 13, with the sixth form attracting approximately 200 students annually. Under the leadership of Dr Robert Whannel since January 2021, the school has implemented a new behaviour policy rooted in restorative practice and invested in specialist spaces for students with additional needs, including the newly established ACE centre.

The Cooper School occupies a dual-campus layout in north Bicester. The main teaching buildings house Years 7-11; the Post 16 Centre, constructed in 2011, provides dedicated sixth form space. The school serves students drawn from north and east Bicester and surrounding villages including Charlton-on-Otmoor, Launton, and Fringford.

The school's values — Dream Big, Work Hard, Be Kind — appear consistently throughout the buildings and reflect stated ambitions. Ofsted noted that pupils celebrate each other's differences and opinions, with high aspirations evident for students regardless of background. The ethos emphasises inclusion: the school has consciously broadened its curriculum and invested in structures to support students with diverse needs.

Recent years have brought visible investment. A new restorative behaviour policy replaced more punitive approaches, reflecting leadership's belief that quality relationships should underpin school culture. The ACE centre expansion signals commitment to students with SEND. Yet Ofsted's February 2025 inspection identified behaviour as an area requiring improvement, suggesting gaps between stated values and consistent execution across the school body.

GCSE Outcomes

The school's GCSE results reflect a school still climbing back to strength after earlier challenges. In 2024, the Attainment 8 score was 44.6, in line with the England average of 44.2. However, only 61% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics, below the England average of 66%. At higher grades, the picture narrows further: just 13% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above across the English Baccalaureate suite.

Progress 8 measures how much progress students make from their starting points compared to peers nationally. The school's Progress 8 score of -0.21 indicates pupils make slightly less than average progress from Key Stage 2 onwards — a finding that troubles headline results further. The school ranks 2,199th in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the bottom half nationally, though it achieves second place locally among Bicester secondaries.

Inspectors acknowledged this reality directly, noting that although improved curriculum and teaching are evident, these gains are not yet reflected in published examination results. The inspection highlighted that many pupils who attend regularly are achieving well, and weaker readers now read with greater fluency, suggesting progress is genuine but incomplete.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form presents a brighter picture. In 2024, 45% of A-level grades were at A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. Grade distributions show 4% at A*, 14% at A, and 27% at B. These figures situate the sixth form solidly in the middle tier nationally — stronger than main school results and reflecting students who have self-selected into post-secondary study.

The A-level ranking is 1,447th in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing the sixth form in the middle band. Locally, it ranks first in Bicester, a notable strength. Ofsted rated sixth form provision as Good, highlighting that teachers ensure students are supported to learn and achieve well, with notably high attendance and engagement.

The school's curriculum framework has been substantially rebuilt over recent years. Staff focus on enabling all pupils to access the full curriculum through enhanced reading support; inspectors found that many weaker readers now read with fluency and confidence. Subject teaching is organised into clear sequences with explicit teaching methods.

In the sixth form, students develop independence and produce high-quality work, supported by experienced teachers across 20+ A-level subjects including Drama, Psychology, Further Mathematics, and Sociology. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides optional enrichment for sixth formers seeking deeper investigation.

Lower down the school, consistency remains uneven. Ofsted noted that whilst lessons are often purposeful and some pupils show high engagement and enthusiasm, too many pupils do not yet benefit fully from curriculum improvements. This inconsistency — between the stated ambitions and day-to-day reality in some classrooms — is a key challenge the school is working to address.

GCSE Leavers

Among the 2024 leavers cohort (105 students), progression routes reflect the full spectrum of post-16 options. 62% progressed to university (likely including both internal sixth form and external colleges). 7% started apprenticeships, and 23% moved directly into employment. The school does not publish detailed university destination data, making it difficult to assess Russell Group or specialist university placement patterns.

Sixth Form Leavers

In the sixth form, the picture is more specific. Over recent years, leavers have progressed to a range of universities. Oxbridge applications remain modest: nine applications were submitted (five to Cambridge, four to Oxford), with one acceptance achieved in the 2024 cohort. This modest Oxbridge penetration is typical of non-selective state schools and reflects the student intake profile.

The school reports that sixth form students "greatly benefit from their time" and are "well informed about their options when they leave," suggesting effective careers guidance. Individual subject departments provide university-specific support, particularly in sciences and humanities.

The school offers a broad palette of extracurricular activities, though current naming conventions emphasise accessibility over elite pathways. At lunchtimes and after school, the electives programme includes sports clubs (football, netball, basketball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball, rounders, athletics, dance), creative activities (drama, acting, singing, dancing, art), academic pursuits (chess, debating, reading club, writing club), and personal development (wellbeing club, environmental club, fantasy football league).

The Feminist Book Club stands out as a notably specific and purposeful offering, signalling the school's commitment to diverse perspectives and student voice in activity design. Board games and indoor recreational clubs provide entry points for less traditionally athletic students.

Music and Performance

The school maintains a Music Development Plan and offers instrument tuition alongside classroom music. Sixth form drama and theatre studies is offered as an A-level subject, and dramatic productions feature in the school calendar — though specific ensemble names or production highlights are not readily published online.

STEM and Technology

STEM Enrichment and Careers is housed within a dedicated online platform accessible to students, signalling institutional commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics pathways. Given the school's history as a specialist science college, this remains an area of emphasis. Computer science is taught as a main curriculum subject and offered at A-level.

Sports and Facilities

The campus includes large sports halls, gymnasiums, and outdoor all-weather pitches. PE is a compulsory subject through GCSE, with optional A-level provision. School fixtures in rugby, hockey, and cricket occur throughout the year. The school also hired out its facilities to the local community, indicating sufficient capacity and quality to serve beyond the school roll.

Additional Provision and Support

Beyond mainstream extracurricular offerings, the school has invested in specialist provision. The newly established ACE centre supports students with identified additional needs. An Alternative Provision pathway exists for students who may benefit from a different curriculum structure. Duke of Edinburgh's Award is available to interested students. Sixth formers access career guidance, UCAS support, and an Aspirers Programme designed to raise aspiration among students from underrepresented backgrounds.

The school is non-selective and operates as a community comprehensive serving the Bicester area. Admissions are coordinated through Oxfordshire County Council's admissions system for Year 7 entry. The 2024 admissions data shows the school was oversubscribed in every year group from Years 7 through 13, with 1.75 applications per place at Year 7 entry — indicating healthy demand but not the extreme competition found in grammar or highly-rated independent schools.

The school is part of Acer Trust, which took over from Bernwode Schools Trust in January 2024. This transition brought new central leadership and strategic direction. The school continues to coordinate admissions through Oxfordshire County Council rather than operating as a fully independent academy, preserving coordination across the local secondary landscape.

School hours run from 8:50am to 3:20pm for main school students. The Post 16 Centre operates on a slightly modified timetable to accommodate A-level study and independent work. There is no boarding provision. Transport is available through standard school transport arrangements; the school is accessible by local bus routes.

The main school campus has large sports halls, multiple gymnasiums, and outdoor pitches available for hire to community groups, suggesting well-maintained facilities. The canteen operates at mealtimes and provides meals for students. Uniform is compulsory and specified on the school website.

The school has invested notably in pastoral structures over recent years. A dedicated Designated Mental Health Lead (held by a geography teacher, reflecting whole-staff responsibility for student welfare) oversees emotional wellbeing. The school nurse is available on site. A school counsellor provides targeted support for students experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties.

Behaviour policy has shifted toward restorative practice — an approach based on building understanding and relationships rather than purely punitive consequences. This reflects leadership philosophy but also represents an ongoing change of culture, which inspectors noted is still embedding.

Anti-bullying procedures exist and are published on the website, though Ofsted's inspection noted that some parents remain concerned about bullying, suggesting inconsistency in day-to-day implementation. The school acknowledges an increase in poor behaviour and has implemented revised strategies, signalling ongoing work in this area.

Below-average GCSE results remain a real concern. Only 61% of pupils achieved grade 5 in both English and maths in 2024, below the England average of 66%. Progress 8 is negative, indicating pupils make slightly less progress than comparable students nationally. For families considering this school, expecting strong exam performance is unrealistic. The school is improving — curriculum work is stronger than results reflect — but the gap persists.

Behaviour and leadership are flagged as areas requiring improvement by Ofsted. The February 2025 inspection identified both as needing further work, despite the school's stated values and recent policy changes. Parents should satisfy themselves during visits that behaviour management matches their expectations and that the restorative approach aligns with their child's needs.

This is a school in transition. The move to Acer Trust in January 2024 brought new leadership and direction. New facilities like the ACE centre signal investment. However, cultural change takes time. Families choosing this school should understand they are selecting an improving institution rather than an established, high-performing one. For some, this represents an opportunity to be part of a genuine improvement journey; for others, it may feel risky.

Attendance matters. Ofsted noted that pupils who attend regularly achieve well, but some groups are frequently absent. If your child is vulnerable to low attendance, this school's improving agenda may benefit them; if they are already a strong attender, a school with more embedded high-attainment culture might suit better.

The Cooper School is a community comprehensive in genuine transition. The Ofsted inspection of February 2025 showed a school making real curriculum progress, with sixth form provision rated Good and quality of education rated Good — yet with behavioural and leadership inconsistencies still to resolve. GCSE results remain below national average, and Progress 8 is negative, reflecting work still to be done. Yet inspectors found no fundamental dysfunction; rather, they identified an institution where improvements are visible but not yet fully embedded.

This school suits families within the Bicester catchment who value a diverse, inclusive environment and who can accept that their child attends a school climbing back toward stronger performance. It is particularly strong for sixth form study, where results and atmosphere are more assured. It is less suitable for families seeking a quick route to top exam grades; those prioritising behaviour consistency; or those uncomfortable with a school actively working through cultural change. For local families with realistic expectations and genuine commitment to supporting their child's attendance and engagement, The Cooper School represents a viable and improving choice.