Cheney School
Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7QHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Cheney School is a secondary school in Oxford for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 359 schools in Oxfordshire. It ranks 6th of 8 secondary schools in Oxford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2015.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 28 January 2015, report published 26 February 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 September 2023
The school is proud of its diverse community. Its vision is aspirational for all pupils, both academically and in terms of their personal development. It has successfully created a vibrant and inclusive culture. At the heart of this are the positive and respectful relationships between pupils and staff and high standards of behaviour in lessons and around the site. Parents and carers are very positive about the school. They particularly like its caring and supportive ethos, but also that staff aim high for their pupils. The school has put in place a broad and ambitious curriculum in all key stages. Overall, pupils are keen to learn, and most are successful. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Furthermore, almost all make positive transitions to the next phase of their education or training. For a small number of pupils, the school has bespoke curriculum programmes to support their learning. School and trust leaders have established clear and consistent routines and systems to support the school's high expectations for behaviour. Pupils and staff appreciate the improvements in behaviour over recent years. Pupils feel listened to and trust staff to deal with any concerns effectively. They feel happy and safe at school.
What the school should improve
- The attendance of some pupils, including some from disadvantaged backgrounds, is not yet high enough. This means that they miss out on the education and wider development offered by the school. The school has a strategy to reduce absence and it should continue its work with pupils and families.
- In a few areas, the curriculum is not delivered as leaders intend. This means that some pupils do not achieve as highly as they could. The school needs to ensure that all staff have the knowledge they need to help all pupils remember what they have learned and apply it effectively.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
282 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
119 students
Average A level grade B-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,706 pupils on roll, with places for 1,615
Schools near Cheney School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headington School Oxford | 0.3 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 32.6 |
| Oxford Spires Academy | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 46.3 |
| Oxford International College | 0.7 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 1.7 |
| Magdalen College School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 45.0 |
| Greyfriars Catholic School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 34.0 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- RIVER LEARNING TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Rob Pavey
- Phone
- 01865765726
- Address
- Cheney Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7QH
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- URN
- 139146
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.