Lord Williams's School

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

Part of THAME PARTNERSHIP ACADEMY TRUST

Oxford Road, Thame, OX9 2AQ

01844 210510 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 17 May 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%England 45% · 2024/25
22nd highest of 41 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 60% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils2,259Room for 2,290 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 2,129 in 2019, 2,177 in 2021, 2,203 in 2022, 2,229 in 2023, 2,276 in 2024, 2,290 in 2025, 2,259 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9279 for 301 places, September 2026
25th highest of 39 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 44% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 May 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

345 pupils in this year group.

48% — about the same as the Oxfordshire average, and 2 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 48% 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. 46.2 46.4 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.0 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 56%This school 2023/24: 49%This school 2024/25: 48% This school England 45% 2022/23 56% 2023/24 49% 2024/25 48%

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.

323 pupils in this year group.

95% — 2 points above the Oxfordshire average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 65%20%
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. 95% 93% 92%
School sixth form 65% 45% 34%
Sixth form college 4% 4% 13%
Further education college 20% 34% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 4% 3%
Work 2% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
97%95%

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

249 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Average A level grade C+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 24% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 52% 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. 35.0 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: 31.1This school 2023/24: 30.1This school 2024/25: 35.0 This school England 35 2022/23 31.1 2023/24 30.1 2024/25 35.0

A level subjects, 2024/25

27 subjects, 693 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Business Studies:Single 62 5% 19% 16%
Economics 58 2% 26% 26%
Biology 57 5% 25% 27%
Mathematics 57 23% 42% 40%
Psychology 55 2% 15% 19%
Sociology 53 2% 13% 20%
History 39 5% 31% 23%
Chemistry 38 5% 26% 30%
Geography 38 3% 13% 23%
English Literature 37 5% 27% 23%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 25 0% 8% 17%
Government and Politics 23 13% 48% 26%
Religious Studies 23 4% 26% 22%
Art and Design 21 14% 24% 34%
Physics 19 16% 32% 31%
English Language 14 0% 7% 13%
Computer Studies / Computing 13 8% 31% 24%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 12 0% 0% 15%
German 9 0% 22% 42%
Mathematics (Further) 9 56% 67% 59%
Drama and Theatre Studies 7 0% 14% 19%
Art and Design (Textiles) 6 17% 33% 36%
Music 6 0% 0% 29%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Spanish, Dance, French, Japanese.

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.

253 students in this year group.

87% — 7 points above the Oxfordshire average, and 8 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. 87% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 6% 7% 7%
Work 36% 38% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
87%87%

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.

246 students in this year group.

69% — 13 points above the Oxfordshire average, and 9 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 69% 56% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 23% 18% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
73%69%

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 offered301
Families who put it first279
Of those, offered a place278 (100%)
Families who listed it at all515

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

Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 30 places for speech, language and communication needs; Autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.

PupilsThis schoolOxfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
29th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.8% 19.1%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
10th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.0% 3.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
42nd highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.8% 17.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
36th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.4% 16.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
32nd lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 13% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
11.1% 9.6%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
27th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 35% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
26.4% 24.2%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
11th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.7 20.3 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
10th lowest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Lower than 77% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
3.7% 6.8% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.09% 0.04% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
14th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 81% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.4 17.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 24th highest of 42 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.1 12.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
14th highest of 40 state secondary schools in Oxfordshire.
Higher than 60% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
15.2% 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.

SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).

Questions parents ask

What is Lord Williams's School's Ofsted rating?

Lord Williams's School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 May 2022.

How did Lord Williams's School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Lord Williams's School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 279 families put Lord Williams's School as their first choice for 301 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 278 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.