Bartholomew School

Bartholomew School demonstrates exceptional performance across all areas, achieving an overall effectiveness rating of outstanding. This marks the school's first inspection since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the results reflect a dedicated approach to education, personal development, and leadership. The school's leaders, including the headteacher and the governing body, maintain a clear and ambitious vision focused on equity and excellence for all students, with particular attention to disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs and disabilities. Strengths in educational quality are evident, with a well-planned curriculum that effectively builds on prior learning and equips pupils with vital skills. Pupils flourish due to a supportive environment, which fosters strong relationships and high levels of engagement in both academic and extracurricular activities. The school also prioritizes the personal development of pupils, preparing them well for their futures in modern Britain. The leadership team is committed to continuous improvement and collaboration, further enhancing the school's strong community spirit.

Strengths

• Exceptional quality of education with meticulously planned curriculum.
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils that enhance learning.
• Outstanding extra-curricular activities that encourage personal development.
• Effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
• Dedicated leadership and management focused on continuous improvement.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Bartholomew School attended 91.4% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 21.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 7.2% of pupils at Bartholomew School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Bartholomew School had 18.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 15.7% of pupils at Bartholomew School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Bartholomew School received £6,999 and spent £7,146 for each of its 1,383 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £515,000 (£373 per pupil).

Across all 11 schools of Epa Trust, income was £6,488 and spending £6,675 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Witney · Oxfordshire local authority: places and applications

Bartholomew School is part of Epa Trust, which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• Eynsham Community Primary School Witney
• St Peter's Church of England Primary School, Cassington Witney
• Stanton Harcourt CofE Primary School Witney
• Freeland Church of England Primary School Witney
• Hanborough Manor CofE School Witney
• Standlake Church of England Primary School Standlake
• West Witney Primary School & Nursery Witney
• Heyford Park School Bicester
• Fritwell Church of England Primary School Bicester
• Cropredy Church of England Primary School Banbury

What is Bartholomew School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bartholomew School is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Bartholomew School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bartholomew School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Bartholomew School have?

Bartholomew School has 1,390 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bartholomew School cover?

Bartholomew School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Bartholomew School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 55.0, and 61% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Bartholomew School?

Bartholomew School is at Witney Road, Eynsham, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 4AP.