The Oxford Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 March 2026

Pupils are happy in school. They feel known and liked by their teachers. This helps to build the school's sense of cohesion and belonging. However, not all pupils attend school as regularly as they should. This means that they miss out on important learning and experiences. Staff offer a warm welcome to pupils as they arrive in the morning. They know pupils well and greet many individually by name. Pupils appreciate the way staff help them to be ready for the day's learning, for example through providing the equipment pupils need, or by providing support and reassurance where necessary. Lessons are calm. The school's well-established teaching routines mean that pupils know what to expect and how to behave. Pupils acknowledge how much calmer lessons are now compared to previous years. However, while the school has raised both the quality of teaching and how pupils with additional needs are supported, and pupils are now learning more, they are not learning as well as they should. This means that they are not as prepared for their next steps as they could be. Pupils feel safe at school and know how to report concerns. They value how leaders have focused on ensuring that pupils treat each other well. Pupils know that bullying is rare and that their peers are respectful of their diversity. Should pupils have any concerns, they know precisely who to tell. Pupils are inspired by the careers education that they receive. They learn about local employment types and further education opportunities. Many sixth-form students have exciting and ambitious future plans informed by their impactful careers education. Similarly, Year 11 pupils are confident about their plans for their next steps, with increasing numbers choosing to join the school's sixth form.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to increase pupils' rates of attendance, including for those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Leaders should ensure that teachers use ongoing checks on pupils' learning consistently well and adapt the curriculum to ensure all pupils learn as well as they should.
• Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded across the school, including in the sixth form, so that pupils' achievement increases, including for those who are disadvantaged.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)