SchoolScoresJohn Watson School
Special academy · All-through, ages 2 to 19 · Mixed · Nursery class · Sixth form
Part of THE PROPELLER ACADEMY TRUST
Littleworth Road, Wheatley, Oxford, OX33 1NN
01865 452725 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 May 2016. 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 October 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
10 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 123333), before it changed to its current form.
0% — 62 points below the Oxfordshire average, and 62 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Oxfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 9% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 0% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 0% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 0% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": No figure published.
Source: DfE key stage 2 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.
8 pupils in this year group.
Only 8 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 123333), before it changed to its current form.
88% — 5 points below the Oxfordshire average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Oxfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 88% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 0% | 45% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 4% | 13% |
| Further education college | 0% | 34% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 100% | 88% |
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Other difficulties or disabilities; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties.
| Pupils | This school | Oxfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 34.0% | 44.0%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.9%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.1%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 29.2% | 10.6%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 8.8% | 12.2%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 26.7% | 32.0%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 4.6 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 0.0% | 3.0% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Pupils per teacher | 5.6 | 6.4 | 6.6 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left during the year | 10.0% | 18.8%* | 14.3%* |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby special schools
- Endeavour Academy, Oxford 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022
- Chilworth House School 2.6 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
- Chilworth House Upper School 2.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Mabel Prichard School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Oxfordshire Hospital School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is John Watson School's Ofsted rating?
John Watson School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 May 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 October 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 152382.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.