The Henry Box School
Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
About The Henry Box School
The Henry Box School is a large secondary school with academy status located in Witney, Oxfordshire, England. The school has a catchment area of the town of Witney and many surrounding villages such as Ducklington and Aston. It has approximately 1200 students, aged 11 - 18. The Latin motto of the Henry Box School is Studio Floremus, which can be translated as 'By study we flourish'. The site was purchased in 1660 by grocer Henry Box, who established the school in his hometown after becoming a successful businessman in London. The schoolhouse, still surviving, and now a Grade II listed building.
The school has had a recent Ofsted inspection (February 2023), the school maintained its 'good school' status.
Headteacher
Wendy Hemmingsley
Values and Vision
We believe that every child has the right to go to a good school and that every child should have the opportunity to transform their life, whatever their starting point. Five key questions underpin our vision of 'transforming lives through inspirational education':
Are we securing equity?
Is our leadership driving improvement?
Is our curriculum irrestible?
Are we research informed?
Are we managing resources effectively?
The Henry Box School is one of the founding schools of The Mill Academy Trust. Schools, staff and children within the Trust benefit from a strong ethos of support and collaboration. We also challenge ourselves to be even better, every day. We are not content with always doing what we've always done. The new educational landscape requires new ways of thinking, leading and operating and, at Henry Box, we aim to build on tradition and educate for the future.
Ofsted report
Our latest Ofsted report can be found at: https://www.henrybox.oxon.sch.uk/296/ofsted-report or attached below.
Professional Development
The school invests heavily in staff CPD, our booklet is attached which gives a flavour of what is on offer. The school is one of only 14 schools in the country to be awarded the Teacher Development Trust's Gold Award for our CPD programmes for our staff.
Professional Development is central to our work and we offer opportunities and support for all staff to develop their skills. From our excellent NQT programme through to our ‘Future Leader’ programme, we are committed to recruiting and retaining the best. Being the lead school in our multi academy trust, we can also offer the opportunity for colleagues to develop their careers beyond one school if this is their area of interest.
Location
The school’s personal development and careers programmes are particularly strong. Both are carefully designed and develop logically from Year 7 to Year 13.
- OFSTED 2023Leaders are aspirational for pupils, including those in the sixth form. The school’s curriculum is ambitious.
- OFSTED 2023Pupils are rightly proud of their diverse school community and the ways in which all are welcomed at the school. Through the school’s personal development programme, pupils learn about equality and respect for others.
- OFSTED 2023Staff are overwhelmingly proud to work at the school. They appreciate the range of professional development and research opportunities on offer. They speak highly of leaders. Staff feel that leaders are mindful of workload pressures and are considerate of the well-being of the whole team.
- OFSTED 2023