Cheney School

In Headington, where east Oxford meets Brookes University, Cheney School occupies a site that has educated young people since the 1950s. The school ranks 1,394th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it solidly within the middle band of state secondaries, yet this tells only part of the story. Progress scores consistently place Cheney in the top 10% to 20% of schools in England, meaning students make significantly better progress here than their starting points would predict. With over 1,700 students aged 11 to 18, Cheney describes itself as a genuinely comprehensive school, and the breadth of its intake and outcomes supports this claim.

The school motto, Think For Yourself; Act For Others, captures an ethos that prizes both intellectual independence and community responsibility. These are not empty words. The core values of Be Ready, Be Respectful, and Be Your Best run through daily expectations, from tutor time at 8:30am through to the final period at 3pm.

Rob Pavey has led the school since September 2020, arriving to guide it through the post-pandemic period. Under his leadership, Cheney has maintained its comprehensive character while strengthening academic performance. The school joined River Learning Trust as an academy in 2013, though its roots stretch back much further. The current site combines Cheney Girls Grammar School, which moved to Cheney Lane in 1959, with Cheney Technical School, which arrived in 1954. The two merged in 1972 to become Cheney Comprehensive. That merger created a school serving a genuinely mixed community, drawing from the residential streets of Headington, the terraces of east Oxford, and the estates beyond.

The Rumble Museum, housed on site, became the UK's first accredited museum within a school in 2015. This is not merely a display case in a corridor. The museum holds over 200 artefacts, hosts breakfast talks open to all year groups, runs themed events throughout the year, and integrates artefact-based teaching into lessons. The Classics Centre provides another distinctive academic resource.

The atmosphere is purposeful. Behaviour is calm and expectations are clear. The 2023 Ofsted inspection rated the school Good across all areas, noting that staff have high expectations and pupils are well-behaved and respectful. Inspectors found that pupils make progress in line with expectations, though they also identified a need for better support for students with lower attainment and special educational needs.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, the Attainment 8 score reached 46.9, above the England average of 45.9. Progress 8 stood at +0.19, indicating students made better progress than the typical student starting from similar points. Nearly 48% of students achieved grade 5 or above in both English and mathematics; 64% achieved grade 4 or above.

Cheney ranks 1,394th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), which places it in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Locally, the school ranks 13th among schools in Oxford. These rankings reflect absolute attainment; the Progress 8 score provides a fuller picture, showing that students here typically outperform expectations given their starting points.

At the top end, 26.1% of grades fell at 9 to 7, with 15.4% at 9 to 8. The school claims these results place Cheney in the top 20% of state schools for progress.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form tells an impressive story. In 2024, 28% of A-level grades reached A* to A, and 51% reached A* to B. The pass rate stood at 99.3%. Progress data places the sixth form in the top 10% in England.

Cheney ranks 827th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), sitting within the middle 35% of sixth forms in England (25th to 60th percentile). Locally, this places the school 12th in Oxford. The combined GCSE and A-level ranking of 781st in England provides a composite measure of performance across both stages.

Provisional 2025 results show further improvement, with 31% at A* to A and 60% at A* to B. If confirmed, these figures would place the sixth form among the top 5% in England for progress.

Individual achievements demonstrate the school's capacity to support the highest attainers. In 2024, one student secured four A* grades in mathematics, further mathematics, computer science, and physics, earning a place at King's College London. Another achieved three A* grades plus an A* in the Extended Project Qualification, progressing to Imperial College for molecular bio-engineering.

The curriculum follows a structured approach with clear expectations. Five hour-long periods run each day, broken by a 30-minute break and a 30-minute lunch. Tutor time from 8:30am to 9am provides daily contact with form tutors.

Setting operates across core subjects, allowing teaching to be pitched appropriately for different ability groups. The school emphasises subject knowledge among teachers, with departments offering extension work and stretch challenges for those who seek them. Research projects are embedded into Key Stage 3 humanities and science curricula, building independent learning skills from Year 7.

The Higher Attainment programme supports students achieving at the top end. This includes lecture series for sixth formers, breakfast talks at the Rumble Museum for all years, academic seminars led by teachers, and dedicated support for those applying to Oxford, Cambridge, or medicine. Students targeting these highly selective destinations receive bespoke interview practice and entry test preparation. Higher Project Qualifications at Key Stage 4 and Extended Project Qualifications in the sixth form provide additional stretch.

The sixth form maintains strong university progression. In 2024, 92 students progressed to university, with 47 securing places at Russell Group institutions. Five students achieved Oxbridge places.

The school's Oxbridge track record is notable for a comprehensive. Fifteen students applied to Oxford and Cambridge in the measurement period, with three receiving offers from Cambridge and all three converting to places. Oxford applications numbered nine, though no offers were made that year. Historically, the school has sent students to both universities, with seven confirmed Oxbridge places in one recent cohort.

Twelve students applied to medical school in 2024, the largest number in the school's history. The Higher Attainment programme and staff support for competitive applications have contributed to this growth.

Beyond the headline figures, 71% of Year 13 leavers progress directly to university or foundation courses, or into apprenticeships. From the most recent cohort of 130 leavers, 59% went to university, 23% into employment, 3% to further education, and 2% to apprenticeships.

The location adjacent to Oxford Brookes University provides additional benefits. Year 13 students can use Brookes study spaces during the school day, and the Brookes Engage programme offers lectures, tuition, and insight into higher education.

Cheney School is its own admissions authority as an academy, though Year 7 applications are coordinated through Oxfordshire County Council. The application deadline falls in October for September entry the following year.

The school is oversubscribed. Data shows 678 applications for 268 places, a ratio of 2.53 applicants per place. After places for looked-after children and those with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school, priority goes to siblings and then to children living within the catchment area. Distance from the school gate applies within each criterion.

The catchment area covers Headington and parts of east Oxford. Specific boundaries are published annually on the Oxfordshire County Council website. Families should consult these documents for precise details, as boundaries can change.

Open events for September 2027 entry include an Open Evening on Tuesday 22 September 2026 from 5:30pm to 8pm, with talks at 5:30pm and 6:30pm. Open Mornings run on 22 September, 24 September, and 13 October 2026, starting at 9am with tours and a talk at 9:45am. A SEND Open Morning for families of children with special educational needs takes place on Thursday 15 October 2026 at 9:30am. No booking is required. There is no parking at the school; visitors should use public transport, walk, or cycle.

Sixth form admissions operate separately, with applications made directly to the school. External students are welcome, subject to meeting entry requirements.

Year Teams provide the primary pastoral structure, with dedicated staff supporting each year group. The school employs a school nurse and offers counselling services, with mental health support and online safety initiatives forming part of the broader welfare provision.

The inclusion services team works with students requiring additional support, though the 2023 Ofsted inspection noted that provision for pupils with lower attainment and special educational needs required strengthening. The school has taken this as a focus area.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund supports eligible sixth form students, including those previously receiving Free School Meals or Pupil Premium.

The extracurricular programme spans sport, creative arts, languages, and specialist interests. All normal club sessions are free.

Formal programmes include the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, a Combined Cadet Force, and competitive Debating. The Classics Club extends study of the ancient world beyond the timetabled curriculum.

The range reflects student interests. Basketball and other sports run alongside Baking Club and Korean language study. Creative writing and film clubs provide outlets for aspiring writers and filmmakers. Esports has been integrated as an educational tool, with Cheney an early adopter in Oxford.

The Drama Dome in the Chadwick block hosts performances, while the 270-seat assembly hall serves for concerts and larger productions. A four-badminton-court sports hall, dance studio, and specialist teaching rooms provide spaces for activities across the curriculum and beyond.

School trips extend learning outside the classroom, including recent visits to Paris for French, Art, and Photography students. The school organises trips for students regardless of age, ability, or circumstances.

The Rumble Museum

The Rumble Museum deserves particular mention. As the UK's first accredited school museum, it provides a resource matched by few state schools. Over 200 artefacts support teaching across subjects, from history and classics to art and science. Student involvement runs deep, with a museum council giving pupils a voice in its operation. Breakfast talks bring external speakers to the school, while themed events throughout the year create memorable learning experiences.

The school day runs from 8:30am to 3:00pm, totalling 32.5 hours per week. The canteen and library open from 8:00am, providing supervision for early arrivals. Reception stays open until 4:00pm.

Transport links suit the location. Headington is served by frequent buses from central Oxford and surrounding areas. Cycling is common, and the school encourages sustainable travel. Parking at the school is not available.

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Map Search to view distances and the Local Hub page to compare results side-by-side using the Comparison Tool.

Progress versus attainment. The headline ranking of 1,394th in England for GCSE reflects absolute attainment, not the journey students make. Progress 8 scores consistently place Cheney in the top 10% to 20% nationally. Families should understand this distinction when comparing schools.

Comprehensive intake. Cheney draws from a genuinely mixed catchment, bringing together students from varied backgrounds and starting points. This creates a different environment from selective or socially homogeneous schools. Some families see this as a strength; others prefer a narrower peer group.

SEND provision. The 2023 Ofsted inspection identified the need for stronger support for students with lower attainment and special educational needs. The school is working on this, but families with children in these categories should investigate current provision carefully.

Oversubscription. With 2.53 applicants per place, securing entry requires living within catchment or meeting higher-priority criteria. Families should verify current catchment boundaries through Oxfordshire County Council.

Cheney School delivers on its comprehensive promise. Students arrive from varied starting points and, on average, leave having made progress that places them among the best-achieving cohorts in England. The sixth form punches above its weight, sending students to Russell Group universities, Oxbridge, and medical school at rates that challenge the assumption that only selective schools achieve such outcomes.

The school suits families seeking a genuine community comprehensive in an academic city. The Rumble Museum, the Brookes partnership, and the Higher Attainment programme provide enrichment that adds texture to the standard state offer. Students willing to engage with these opportunities can access an education that rivals more selective alternatives.

Best suited to families within catchment who want academic ambition combined with social breadth. The main challenge is securing a place in an oversubscribed school; once through the door, the opportunities are substantial.

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