Icknield Community College

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of ACER TRUST

Love Lane, Watlington, OX49 5RB

01491 612691 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 19 March 2015, before conversion; confirmed 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths52%England 45% · 2024/25
16th highest of 41 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 68% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils804Room for 700 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 693 in 2019, 726 in 2021, 752 in 2022, 743 in 2023, 732 in 2024, 766 in 2025, 804 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9158 for 180 places, September 2026
27th highest of 39 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 35% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 March 2015. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).

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
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

176 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Oxfordshire comparisons use the 22 of its 42 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 20 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 98% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 85% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 96% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 86% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 2nd highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 84% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 76% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 47 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 98% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74% 49% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 117 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 100% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 72% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 42 parents of children with SEND
1st highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 97% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 62% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 98% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98%said yes 81% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 23%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Oxfordshire figures pool parents at the Oxfordshire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

130 pupils in this year group.

52% — 3 points above the Oxfordshire average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 52% 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. 51.2 46.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.9 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 48%This school 2023/24: 47%This school 2024/25: 52% This school England 45% 2022/23 48% 2023/24 47% 2024/25 52%

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.

139 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 22%22%37%
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 22% 45% 34%
Sixth form college 22% 4% 13%
Further education college 37% 34% 37%
Apprenticeship 8% 4% 3%
Work 6% 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.

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered180
Families who put it first158
Of those, offered a place156 (99%)
Families who listed it at all321

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Oxfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
31st highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 15% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.6% 19.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
Joint 24th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 58% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.3% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 95% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
23.8% 17.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
41st highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 13% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.3% 16.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
12th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.0% 9.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
13th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 62% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
21.2% 24.2%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
4th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 84% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.6 20.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 85% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
2.7% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.04% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 18th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 69% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.7 17.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 30th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.0 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
27th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 34% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.9% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Icknield Community College's Ofsted rating?

Icknield Community College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 March 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

How did Icknield Community College do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 52% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Icknield Community College?

98% of the 176 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Icknield Community College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Icknield Community College oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 158 families put Icknield Community College as their first choice for 180 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 156 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.