Magdalen College School
Brackley, NN13 6FB · West Northamptonshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
16th of 22 secondary schools in West Northamptonshire we can score, 24 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 495 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.2/10 among them, against 3.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 40.5 · 39 | 46% | 1.79 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.25 · 31 | 38% | 1.19 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 44.2 · 40 | 15% | 0.62 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Magdalen College School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 32.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 in 2023/24 was -0.25, 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 0.1 out of 10 among them, against 2.8 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
The school offers a breakfast club, an after-school club, and a homework club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,293 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. 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 activities take place during the breakfast and after-school clubs?
What Ofsted said about Magdalen College School
Overview
The report states the school has "failed to provide pupils with an acceptable standard of education" and requires special measures. While sixth-form students generally benefit from a "well-delivered curriculum," key stages 3 and 4 suffer from low expectations, poor behaviour, and ineffective leadership.
Strengths
- Sixth-form students "achieve well in public examinations" due to higher staff expectations.
- The school has developed a "broad and ambitious curriculum" with clear key knowledge and vocabulary.
- Most pupils "feel safe in school" and know they have an adult to talk to if worried.
- Staff are "well-trained" in safeguarding and act quickly to support pupils in need.
- Pupils learn about staying safe online, healthy lifestyles, and different religions.
Areas to improve
- Ensure the curriculum is implemented consistently well in key stages 3 and 4, with staff systematically checking understanding to resolve learning gaps.
- Implement effective systems to reduce truancy and lateness, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
- Ensure staff adapt teaching to support pupils with SEND and that a suitable writing curriculum is in place.
- Manage site access effectively to prevent pupils from entering unsafe areas and ensure rigorous oversight of alternative provisions.
- Strengthen governance so leaders have an accurate understanding of weaknesses and are held to account.
Safeguarding
The report states that "arrangements for safeguarding are not effective," citing failures in managing site access, unsupervised pupils, and inadequate checks on adults in alternative provisions.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.3 |
| 2024/25 | 44.2 |
| 2025/26 | 44.2 |
| 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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