The Henry Box School
Witney, OX28 4AX · Oxfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
28th 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 887 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.2/10 among them, against 2.8/10 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 | 37.6 · 31 | 30% | 0.94 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.32 · 26 | 25% | 0.64 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.6 · 27 | 10% | 0.27 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Henry Box School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. In 2024/25, 35.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.32 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 0.9 out of 10 among them, against 2.8 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, play football, hockey, or rugby, and participate in drama productions. Year 7 students attend a residential trip to Oaker Wood.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,027 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,469. 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 8 score and the national benchmark? What specific steps are taken to improve attainment in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about The Henry Box School
Overview
The Henry Box School continues to be a good school, offering an ambitious curriculum where most pupils work hard and achieve well. Leaders are aspirational, and the school fosters a diverse community where pupils feel safe and learn about equality and respect. However, the report highlights inconsistencies in expectations for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), alongside concerns regarding attendance and bullying.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "thoughtfully sequenced," ensuring knowledge builds coherently, helping most pupils "recall and apply what they have been taught."
- A "very effective programme" supports reading, allowing pupils who struggle to catch up quickly with their peers in fluency and comprehension.
- Personal development and careers programmes are "particularly strong," carefully designed to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain and future employment.
- Staff are "overwhelmingly proud to work at the school," appreciating professional development opportunities and leadership that is "mindful of workload pressures."
Areas to improve
- Attendance for some pupils remains "too low," negatively impacting learning; leaders must ensure inclusion strategies are implemented consistently.
- Expectations for pupils with SEND are "not always high enough," and teaching adaptations are not consistently effective across all subjects.
- Some parents and pupils are concerned that bullying is not addressed effectively, leading to a lack of confidence in how incidents are resolved.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders ensuring policies support a strong culture of safety and staff understanding risks appropriately.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.2 |
| 2024/25 | 42.2 |
| 2025/26 | 41.6 |
| 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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