Futures Institute Banbury
Banbury, OX16 9HY · Oxfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
25th 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 — 3.7/10 against 879 of them, against 3.8/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 47.9 · 58 | 30% | 1.73 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.56 · 13 | 25% | 0.33 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.5 · 42 | 10% | 0.42 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Futures Institute Banbury overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 38.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.56 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.6 out of 10 among them, against 2.5 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join a Maths lunch club, All Things Spanish, creative writing club, and Art Club. Sports include football, darts, netball, and chess. The school offers a National Theatre Connections programme and a production of *We Will Rock You*. A NASA trip is available. Both breakfast and after-school clubs operate.
Getting in
The published school roll is 116 pupils against a stated capacity of 300. 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 strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the small current roll affect the range of elective options available?
What Ofsted said about Futures Institute Banbury
Overview
Futures Institute Banbury continues to be a good school, where pupils arrive “eager and ready to learn” with high aspirations for their futures. The institution provides a supportive environment with a strong focus on STEM subjects and careers, ensuring that individual needs are met and behaviour remains “positive and calm.”
Strengths
- Pupils value the “thoughtful and high-quality careers curriculum,” which offers realistic insights into work and local employment opportunities.
- Staff provide daily care and support, with “bespoke provision” helping pupils who have missed schooling to catch up quickly.
- The curriculum has been redesigned to be ambitious, with teachers using expertise to “inspire and enthuse pupils” particularly in STEM subjects.
- Sixth-form students are “exceptionally well supported” in planning their futures through the Aspiration Employability Diploma and work experience.
- The school is “highly inclusive,” fostering a strong understanding of equality, respect, and online safety among pupils.
Areas to improve
- The curriculum is not yet “securely and consistently embedded in a small number of subjects,” meaning pupils do not always achieve as highly as they could in these areas.
- Some pupils are not always able to “recollect and articulate what they have learned” from the PSHE curriculum, requiring more opportunities for discussion and debate.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff who are “knowledgeable and vigilant” and who make timely referrals to external agencies when needed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.8 |
| 2024/25 | 41.1 |
| 2025/26 | 44.5 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of OX16 9HY, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT