Background and curriculum information

The Oxford Academy is an 11-19 mixed comprehensive school in an area of significant social disadvantage. Most students come from some of the most deprived wards in the country; more than half are entitled to free school meals. SEN students form 27% of the school.  The Academy was placed in special measures in 2012, became ‘requiring improvement’ in 2014, and ‘good’ in 2016. The disruption to learning and the effect on grades during this period should be considered when assessing the real potential of students now seeking to progress to university. During this period of disruption our current yr.13 students took their GCSES at different time-points; some in year 9, some in year 10 and some in year 11. Some option courses were completed in a year during year 11. This has affected their achievement in these courses. We also have a significant retake English and Maths GCSE cohort.

Partly as a response to this, to improve retention most students were entered for AS exams in 2017. These results do not necessarily reflect students’ potential and ability to study; many of these students are completing a blended curriculum of BTECS and A levels.  Some individual students were not entered for AS exams in 2017; these students completed rigorous internal assessments based on A Level style papers. Their predicted grades are based on these assessments and the professional judgment of their teachers.

Context (October 2017)