Greyfriars Catholic School
Oxford, OX4 3DR · Oxfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
31st 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 — 2.6/10 against 828 of them, against 2.7/10 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 | 30.9 · 17 | 30% | 0.51 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.04 · 47 | 25% | 1.18 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 34.7 · 5 | 10% | 0.05 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Greyfriars Catholic School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2023. In 2024/25, 28.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.04 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than peers 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 (2.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Choir, Chess Club, Catholic Life Ambassadors, Core Team, Citizens UK Student Leadership Team, Urdu, and Basketball Club. They play Gaelic Football and visit Thorpe Park, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Battlefields in Ypres. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 669 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 attainment gap with the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the school integrate the Catholic Life Ambassadors programme into daily lessons
What Ofsted said about Greyfriars Catholic School
Overview
Greyfriars Catholic School is described as a place where pupils enjoy a "calm and respectful environment" that supports their learning. The report highlights that staff have been "resolute in transforming this school," resulting in a "productive learning environment" where behaviour is positive and pupils are ambitious for their futures.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate "kind and respectful" relationships, with bullying being "very rare" and discrimination "never tolerated".
- Teachers provide "clear and detailed explanations" in lessons, helping pupils to "confidently build their knowledge and skills".
- The school offers wide opportunities for personal development, including leadership roles and partnerships such as "building and launching a satellite".
- Sixth-form students show "resilience" and act as "excellent role models" for the rest of the school.
- Pupils receive effective careers advice, leaving them "confident that they know enough to make informed decisions".
Areas to improve
- Teachers must ensure pupils’ understanding is checked precisely to identify and address "gaps in their knowledge" before moving on.
- The school needs to monitor the implementation of improvements and training to ensure learning is successfully adapted for pupils with SEND.
- Actions must be strengthened to improve the attendance of pupils who are not attending school as regularly as they should.
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 | 40.4 |
| 2024/25 | 34.0 |
| 2025/26 | 34.7 |
| 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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