Oxford Spires Academy

[JandT]

Hi All,

We are moving to Oxford next year and having looked around a couple of schools for DS1, Oxford Spires it seems is the best (we really liked the atmosphere, education, staff and pupil attitudes, etc). Just wondering, does anyone know anything (good or bad) about it? We know it used to be a failing school and it got made into an academy as a result, but it looked seriously amazing and much better than the school that had been recommended to us.

Thank you!

I don't know anything about it personally, but according to the league tables, it has one of the lowest GCSE pass rates in the county. I think only around 20% of students achieve 5 Grade A-C GCSEs. Having said that, it has one of the highest value added scores which shows that pupils achieve well, bearing in mind their starting point.

If you're looking in that area, Cheney School and the Cherwell School seem to have good reputations locally.

The pass rate at Spires this year was actually 57 percent including English and maths and over 70 percent without .. It's Oxford Acadeny which was lower not Spires.

Sorry having technical trouble ! Good luck in Oxford it's a lovely place ..

Is it only me who just cannot manage to see past all that purple to learn what the school is really like?

Purple uniform I could just about cope with, but the school itself is physically covered in purple. Everything is painted purple. Isn't there any health and safety legislation regarding the maximum recommended daily dose of purple?

We transferred our oldest child to OSA late last summer after an unsatisfactory year at another secondary school local to us in Headington. My husband, a former secondary teacher and I were impressed by the environment created by the head, Sue Croft, and the staff that allowed the students to get on with learning. Our child is in able, gifted and talented programme and has already had opportunities to participate in a writing day at one of the Oxford colleges and on the debate team. Yes, there is a lot of purple, but they look really smart in their jumpers and house ties. I am very happy and relieved we found OSA, I'm confident this is a school on the way up. I encourage parents to visit and be pleasantly surprised by this local jewel.

Do you work at the school?

read the ofsted letter www.oxfordspiresacademy.org/aboutus/ofstedinspection.aspx
plus have a good hunt around the website, looks like this is still a school with issues

No, actually I do not work at OSA. All I am saying is that we have a child at OSA after pulling him out of a school that had its issues, not noted in Ofsted report, and we are confident that the school is moving upward under inspired management and teaching. Our child is thriving and we've only put OSA on our second child's secondary admission form because we feel confident about the future of this swiftly turning about school. No, I'm not being paid, but basing judgement of where this school is today on Ofsted and old reputation is not very fair on the staff, pupils and parents who are working hard to improve standards.

I also know of a (very middle-class) family who moved their (very bright) child to OSA from a more 'better regarded' school locally. All is going well as far as I know.

OP If you liked it, then go for it.