St Birinus School
Didcot, OX11 8AZ · Oxfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
7th 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 814 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.9/10 among them, against 7.5/10 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 | 55.8 · 75 | 46% | 3.45 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.36 · 76 | 38% | 2.94 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.8 · 73 | 15% | 1.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Birinus School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths, with an Attainment 8 score of 48.2 (national median 44.6). Progress 8 was +0.36 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.9 out of 10 among them, against 7.0 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Lego Robotics, Kung Fu, and Mandarin drama workshops, or play Rugby, Squash, and Basketball. Music lessons are available, and trips include visits to the Winchester Science Centre, Warwick Castle, and a Year 9 trip to China.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,237 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,428. 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 progress scores and the national average for similar intakes? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about St Birinus School
Overview
St Birinus School is described as having a strong culture of ‘care, courtesy and commitment’ with high expectations lived out by staff and pupils. The report highlights a broad, ambitious curriculum and effective leadership, noting that pupils achieve well in external examinations and are well prepared for life in modern Britain.
Strengths
- The school has established a ‘friendly and welcoming atmosphere’ where pupils are ‘respectful and courteous’ and sixth-form students act as positive role models.
- Curriculum design is ‘strong’, with logically ordered subjects ensuring essential knowledge builds securely; teachers use ‘skilful questioning’ to address misconceptions.
- Support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is ‘well matched to their needs’, leading to good achievement.
- Pastoral care is ‘high-quality’ and ‘thoughtful’, contributing to falling suspension rates and reversed dips in attendance.
- Leadership and management are rated ‘Outstanding’, with the trust providing ‘robust challenge and support’.
Areas to improve
- The school must continue to embed its teaching principles to reduce variation, ensuring all pupils routinely ‘think deeply, explain their thinking and then apply it to increasingly complex tasks’.
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 | 50.0 |
| 2024/25 | 48.2 |
| 2025/26 | 50.8 |
| 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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