Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Sixth form

Part of THE POPE FRANCIS CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY COMPANY

Addison Road, Banbury, OX16 9DG

01295 264216 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 22 November 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths42%England 45% · 2024/25
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 47% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils943Room for 847 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 866 in 2019, 888 in 2021, 881 in 2022, 869 in 2023, 879 in 2024, 908 in 2025, 943 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1186 for 172 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 72% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 November 2022.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

139 pupils in this year group.

42% — 6 points below the Oxfordshire average, and 3 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 42% 48% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 48.5 46.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.3 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 52%This school 2023/24: 48%This school 2024/25: 42% This school England 45% 2022/23 52% 2023/24 48% 2024/25 42%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

143 pupils in this year group.

96% — 3 points above the Oxfordshire average, and 4 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 56%32%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 96% 93% 92%
School sixth form 56% 45% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 4% 13%
Further education college 32% 34% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 4% 3%
Work 3% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%96%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

72 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 22% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 42% 53% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 32.8 33.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 30.4This school 2023/24: 33.5This school 2024/25: 32.8 This school England 35 2022/23 30.4 2023/24 33.5 2024/25 32.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

16 subjects, 200 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
History 26 0% 12% 23%
Psychology 26 0% 31% 19%
Biology 23 0% 17% 27%
Mathematics 19 21% 37% 40%
English Language 17 0% 0% 13%
Chemistry 15 0% 27% 30%
Religious Studies 15 0% 13% 22%
Physics 14 14% 29% 31%
Business Studies:Single 13 0% 8% 16%
Polish 10 0% 50% 66%
English Literature 9 0% 22% 23%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), Physical Education / Sports Studies, French, Drama and Theatre Studies, Mathematics (Further).

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

67 students in this year group.

94% — 14 points above the Oxfordshire average, and 15 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 94% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 1% 7% 7%
Work 30% 38% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
88%94%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

80 students in this year group.

75% — 19 points above the Oxfordshire average, and 15 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 75% 56% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 19% 18% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
81%75%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Oxfordshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered172
Families who put it first186
Of those, offered a place153 (82%)
Families who listed it at all430

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Oxfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.3% 19.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.5% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
18.9% 17.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
36.5% 16.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Lower than 79% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.6% 9.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Lower than 82% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
16.1% 24.2%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Lower than 50% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.6 20.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Lower than 38% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.3% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.11% 0.04% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 67% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.6 17.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 82% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.4 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Banbury.
Higher than 86% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
22.2% 14.1%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form's Ofsted rating?

Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 November 2022.

How did Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 42% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 186 families put Blessed George Napier Catholic School and Sixth Form as their first choice for 172 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 153 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.