Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #38 in Oxfordshire public Top 44% UK

Aureus School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Kirsty Rogers

corporate_fareGLF SCHOOLS

location_onDidcot, OX11 6FF

language Visit Website phone 1235313713

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

589

trending_up

Attainment 8

33.7

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GCSE Rank

#38 in Oxfordshire

#3,081 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Aureus School is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Didcot, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Aureus School is an academy sponsor led in Didcot, Oxfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of GLF SCHOOLS. The school has approximately 485 pupils on roll, of whom 34% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 33.7, placing the school #38 in Oxfordshire and #3,081 of 3,216 nationally. 19.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 10.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.5× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 20.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

33.7

Grade 5+ E&M

19.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)10.0%

Entering EBacc9.20%

EBacc APS2.83

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.46

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17.30%

EBacc APS3.05

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc47%

EBacc APS3.28

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.51

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS3.52

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 October 2024

Inspection Report

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04 July 2023

Inspection Report

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29 March 2022

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2024-10-22

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-03-29

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

18.8%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

8.9%(43 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 485 pupils. During this period, there were 91 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 18.8%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	485	91	18.8%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	475	106	22.3%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	541	95	17.6%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	545	93	17.1%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	539	193	35.8%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	606	251	41.4%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	589	242	41.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	580	163	28.1%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	605	77	12.7%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	598	64	10.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	588	45	7.7%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	524	82	15.6%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	522	8	1.5%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	528	30	5.7%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	469	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	469	52	11.1%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	484	93	19.2%	4.2%	3
2018/19 (Summer term)	317	59	18.6%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	320	34	10.6%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	318	55	17.3%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	120	30	25.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	116	13	11.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	110	6	5.5%	3.7%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 46 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 27 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 25 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 21 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Physical Disability 7 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

81.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

83.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

26.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree37%

agree38%

disagree13%

strongly disagree6%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree41%

agree33%

disagree13%

strongly disagree7%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree34%

agree19%

disagree12%

strongly disagree9%

don't know1%

not applicable25%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes34%

no66%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree39%

agree33%

disagree18%

strongly disagree6%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree45%

agree35%

disagree8%

strongly disagree7%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree38%

disagree13%

strongly disagree7%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree52%

agree35%

disagree7%

strongly disagree6%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree43%

disagree12%

strongly disagree7%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree37%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree42%

agree37%

disagree5%

strongly disagree7%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes78%

no22%

Top Secondary Schools in Oxfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Gillotts School

Outstanding

location_on Henley-on-Thames, RG9 1PS

emoji_events #1 in LA

Didcot Girls' School

Outstanding

location_on Didcot, OX11 7AJ

emoji_events #2 in LA

The Cherwell School

Outstanding

location_on Oxford, OX2 7EE

emoji_events #3 in LA

Langtree School

Good

location_on Reading, RG8 0RA

emoji_events #4 in LA

Matthew Arnold School

Good

location_on Oxford, OX2 9JE

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Swan School

Good

location_on Oxford, OX2 7WP

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Oxfordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Oxfordshire

Gillotts School

Didcot Girls' School

The Cherwell School

Langtree School

Matthew Arnold School

The Swan School