MixedIndependentBoarding

Sibford School

Banbury, Oxfordshire, South East · OX15 5QL

Founded in 1842, Sibford School carries a Quaker ethos through its small, mixed community of around 396 pupils near Banbury, Oxfordshire. Drawing children from age three to eighteen, with boarding available, it offers an intimate setting where pupils are well known to staff. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'excellent' for both education and personal development, the latter a hallmark of its Quaker emphasis on the individual. One note for families: the same inspection found compliance standards were not met, a point worth raising directly with the school. With more than a third of pupils receiving SEN support, Sibford is geared towards children who thrive in a nurturing, less pressured environment.

396

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£23,769

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 3-18
Pupils: 396
Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire, South East
Website: http://www.sibfordschool.co.uk
Telephone: 01295 781200

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

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Headteacher

Head Rebecca Evans

Latest results

Attainment 8

40.6

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

38%

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

30%

A-level A*-A

41%

A-level A*-B

59%

Teaching & academics

Headline results sit below national benchmarks, with an Attainment 8 score of 40.6 against the national average of 46.9 and 38 per cent achieving grade 5 or above in English and Maths versus 47 per cent nationally. At A-level, 41 per cent of grades reached A*-A and 59 per cent A*-B. The curriculum is broad rather than narrowly academic, spanning GCSE, A-level, BTEC and the EPQ, which suits a mixed-ability intake; Mathematics, Geography, and English are among the most popular choices. The high proportion of pupils on SEN support points to a school comfortable supporting a range of learners.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 60

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsGeography

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelBTECEPQother

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 33.84%
EHC plans: 1.01%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

AcademicSportsMusicDramaArts

Languages

Spanish

Popular GCSE subjects

MathematicsEnglish LanguageEnglish Literature

Sport

Main sports

RugbyNetballFootballCricket

Beyond the classroom

Sport runs through rugby, netball, football and cricket, and scholarships extend across academic, sports, music, drama and arts pathways. This breadth signals genuine value placed on talents beyond the classroom, in keeping with the school's developmental focus.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1842
Religious character: Quaker
Boarding: Yes

Mobile phone policy

Key Stage 3: students expected to leave phones at home; if brought, hand in during registration. Key Stage 4: turn phones off and put away during school day.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £14,808 - £23,769
Boarding fees (per year): £34,401 - £46,209

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 1 October 2024

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A small Quaker school that prizes the whole child and supports a wide spread of abilities. Parents drawn to its values should weigh the unmet compliance finding and ask the school how it has been addressed.

The Passmate verdict