New schools for Oxfordshire

Information about proposals for new schools in Oxfordshire.

The 2011 Education Act mandates all new schools to be academies and run by independent multi-academy trusts.

This includes; 

  • free schools
  • university technical colleges (UTCs)
  • studio schools

Various organisations, including religious groups or charities can set up trusts. Existing academies can apply to run new schools. 

The county council is responsible for; 

  • planning and securing sufficient school places 
  • deciding who will run the schools

Interested in opening a new school

Organisations interested in opening a new school in Oxfordshire can  contact our School Organisation and Planning team for information and advice.

Bidding process

The government has provided guidance on the bidding and selection process. It will choose which organisation(s) will run the new schools. In Oxfordshire, the process for new schools is:

  1. undertake a public consultation to identify the academy model to be implemented
  2. invite initial expressions of interest in running the school
  3. assess expressions of interest and invite detailed bids from three or fewer providers to show clear plans of how they will contribute to the raising of education standards
  4. assess bids against criteria and rank in order of preference
  5. submit preferred sponsor choice to the Regional Schools Commissioner for decision
  6. the proposal is developed with a provider approved by the Regional Schools Commissioner 

The Secretary of State will only consider entering a funding agreement with an approved sponsor. (The DfE's approved sponsor list can be accessed from the education.gov.uk)

Potential proposers who are not already known to the DfE are advised to make contact as soon as possible.

New schools

New SEMH/ASD special schools

The Gallery Trust is opening  two new special schools. One in the north of the county and the second in the south a special school in Faringdon will open in 2026.

Grove and Wantage schools

The Vale Academy Trust has been approved by the Department for Education (DfE) to open an all-through (primary and secondary) school.

 Situated on Grove Airfield and named St Johns C of E Academy. The primary phase opened in September 2023, and the secondary phase is anticipated to open in September 2025.