Larkmead School
Faringdon Road, Abingdon, OX14 1RFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Larkmead School is a secondary school in Abingdon for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 359 schools in Oxfordshire. It ranks 3rd of 4 secondary schools in Abingdon. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2015.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 3 February 2015, report published 2 March 2015
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 March 2024
This school is a very happy and inclusive place because, as one parent said, pupils 'are at the heart of what Larkmead does'. Consequently, pupils are polite and respectful with staff and each other. Pupils feel safe and 'seen' here. They are very clear that the school does not tolerate bullying or prejudicial behaviour. They know who to go to for help and have confidence that the school will listen and address any concerns. The school's caring ethos ensures it maintains its high expectations, both academically and personally, while also continuing to provide strong support to pupils. Pupils benefit from strong personal development. A wide range of extra-curricular activities bring the community together through shared interests and spaces. The school is also aspirational for all pupils academically. Recent curriculum developments are starting to have a positive impact on current pupils' achievement, most of whom are working to increasingly higher standards and are proud of their work. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). However, these developments are not yet reflected in published outcomes, particularly for more disadvantaged pupils.
What the school should improve
- Some teachers do not systematically check all pupils' accuracy and depth of understanding to a high enough level. Consequently, some pupils cannot draw on the full range of what they have learned and apply it fluently, especially in key stage 3. The school should continue to support teachers to refine their practice so they can accurately identify what pupils know and can do and adapt their teaching accordingly.
- Some pupils' attendance is not yet high enough. This means that these pupils do not benefit from all that the school has to offer and that they do not achieve as well as they could. The school should continue to embed its culture of high attendance so that the strategies which it has put in place support all pupils to attend regularly and keep up with their work, especially those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
144 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
66 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
959 pupils on roll, with places for 1,060
Schools near Larkmead School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Helen and St Katharine | 0.2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 71.8 |
| John Mason School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.5 |
| Abingdon School | 0.6 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 16.4 |
| Fitzharrys School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 46.0 |
| Cothill House | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- CAMBRIAN LEARNING TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Jonathan Dennett
- Phone
- 01235520141
- Address
- Faringdon Road, Abingdon, OX14 1RF
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- URN
- 143890
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.