John Mason School
Abingdon, OX14 1JB · Oxfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
27th of 40 secondary schools in Oxfordshire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 693 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6/10 among them, against 3.4/10 nationally. 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 | 43.8 · 47 | 30% | 1.40 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.52 · 15 | 25% | 0.37 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.9 · 44 | 10% | 0.44 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
John Mason School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.5, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.52 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 0.3 out of 10 among them, against 3.3 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted rated the school Good in February 2025.
Getting in
The published school roll is 927 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,040. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific interventions are in place for students who are not meeting expected progress? How does the school ensure that the Good Ofsted rating translates into consistent daily teaching quality?
What Ofsted said about John Mason School
Overview
This ungraded inspection found that aspects of the school’s work “may not be as strong as at the time of the previous inspection,” triggering a future graded inspection. While the school is “generally calm and orderly” with strong personal development, inconsistencies in teaching, behaviour management, and attendance have hindered pupil achievement, particularly for disadvantaged learners and those with special educational needs.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy a wide range of enrichment activities, including sports, music, and leadership roles, showing “maturity in how they celebrate their own and each other’s successes.”
- Personal development is a strength, with a “well-designed programme” ensuring pupils know how to keep themselves healthy and safe.
- Sixth-form students “gain secure knowledge and achieve more highly” than other pupils, benefiting from effective knowledge checks and support schemes like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
- Relationships between staff and pupils are “often positive and warm,” with pupils knowing they are cared for.
Areas to improve
- Staff must consistently check pupil understanding to identify and address gaps in knowledge and misconceptions, which currently leads to lower achievement.
- The school must reduce the wide achievement gap for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND by adapting lessons to meet their specific needs.
- Leaders must ensure new behaviour and attendance strategies are applied consistently to reduce high suspension rates and persistent absence, particularly among disadvantaged pupils.
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 | 41.1 |
| 2024/25 | 44.5 |
| 2025/26 | 44.9 |
| 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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