Aureus School
Didcot, OX11 6FF · Oxfordshire · secondary school
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38th of 40 secondary schools in Oxfordshire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.6/10 against 760 of them, against 1.8/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 31.9 · 18 | 46% | 0.83 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.46 · 18 | 38% | 0.68 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.0 · 20 | 15% | 0.30 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Aureus School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 19.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 33.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.46 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award, music tuition, choirs, and vocal groups. Trips include a Year 7 residential, theatre performances, university workshops, World War 1 and 2 battlefield visits, Bletchley Park, Cadbury World, and a ski trip.
Getting in
The published school roll is 531 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming for the Duke of Edinburgh Award? How does the school structure the transition for Year 7 students attending the residential trip?
What Ofsted said about Aureus School
Overview
Aureus School has “changed for the better” following a previous inspection, with leaders and staff sharing “high ambitions” that have driven rising academic standards. The report describes a “settled” environment where pupils feel safe and trust staff to support their learning and emotional needs.
Strengths
- Academic standards have risen, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who benefit from “extensive and precise support”.
- Classrooms are “calm and purposeful”, with well-rehearsed routines helping staff manage behaviour calmly and proportionately.
- The school fosters pupils as “global citizens” through a “rich range of experiences” that support cultural and social development.
- Staff provide timely and effective help for pupils who do not yet read fluently or require support with spoken English.
- Personal, social, health education is “planned meticulously” and responsive to pupils’ needs, with high attendance at extra-curricular activities.
Areas to improve
- Staff must provide more opportunities for pupils to “connect and demonstrate their learning”, such as through extended writing, to help them make connections between what they know.
- The school needs to refine plans to ensure pupils eligible for the pupil premium attend school more frequently and achieve as well as their peers, as current support is “less defined”.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.0 |
| 2024/25 | 33.7 |
| 2025/26 | 40.0 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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