Lord Williams's School
Thame, OX9 2AQ · Oxfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
16th 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 764 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.9/10 among them, against 6.0/10 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 | 34% | 1.79 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 51.2 · 65 | 30% | 1.98 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.06 · 55 | 25% | 1.38 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 47.1 · 56 | 10% | 0.56 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Lord Williams's School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2022. In 2024/25, 47.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.06 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better 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 2.9 out of 10 among them, against 5.7 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 2,259 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,290. 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 relative to similar-intake peers? What specific steps are taken to maintain the Good Ofsted rating following the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Lord Williams's School
Overview
The report describes a school where “pupils are proud to attend” and staff maintain “high expectations.” Leaders have designed an “ambitious curriculum” that generally prepares pupils well for life beyond school, supported by strong subject knowledge and effective pastoral care. While the overall effectiveness is judged as Good, the inspection highlights specific inconsistencies in curriculum design and clarity around behaviour management that require attention.
Strengths
- Pupils feel safe, with a culture where “it is ok to be yourself here as we celebrate differences.”
- Teachers use assessment effectively to identify and overcome gaps in pupils’ knowledge and skills.
- Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “achieve well” through tailored support.
- The sixth form offers a “wide range of qualifications” for students of all abilities.
- A “thorough programme of personal development” includes high-quality careers education and PSHE.
Areas to improve
- Curriculum thinking in some subjects, such as physical education and mathematics, is not as well developed, meaning pupils do not always “learn how to do more or remember more.”
- Leaders must ensure all pupils and parents have a “stronger understanding of the school’s response to bullying,” as current processes are not fully understood by all.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with an efficient system for identifying at-risk pupils and a curriculum that educates them on issues such as online sexual abuse.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.4 |
| 2024/25 | 46.2 |
| 2025/26 | 47.1 |
| 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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