Open Evening

We will be holding our Annual Open Evening on Wednesday 1st October 2025. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the school, talk to members of staff and students, take part in activities and hear from our Headteacher and Executive Headteacher. Please hold this date in your diary. 

The evening runs from 5:30pm-8pm with Headteacher talks at 6pm and 7pm. No bookings necessary.  Parking will be available through the North Drive Gates on Mereland Road, next to Willowcroft School. 

Open Morning Tours

Our Autumn Open Mornings Tours have now taken place. 

We will be running further tours in the summer term for year 5 students and their families.  If you would like join our waiting list for these tours, please complete the short form below and we will notify you when places are ready to book:

Tours will start promply at 9am and finish at 10:15am - these events are primarily for pupils currently in Year 5. 

We look forward to welcoming you and your son for the visit, but kindly ask that only one adult attends per family.

 A member of staff and student guides will be available to meet you on arrival.

Parking for Open Mornings is available through the Main Gates (next to the Leisure Centre)

Please click here for information regarding tours at Didcot Girls' School

We hope that the resources below will give you a flavour of just how inspiring life is at St Birinus School.

If you would like to book a conversation with the Headteacher to discuss admissions, please email admissions@st-birinus.oxon.sch.uk

Resources for Rising Year 7 Families

Admissions

The Governors of St Birinus School follow the Oxfordshire County Council schemes for processing applications to start Year 7 for the first time and in-year transfers during the school year.

To reserve a place for your son at St Birinus School, it is important to follow these procedures:

Starting Year 7

If your son is in Year 6, you will need to apply for secondary school transfer via your Council. 

If you live in Oxfordshire visit the Council website www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/secondaryadmissions for the link to the Parent Portal (School Places – Admissions) or to download the paper form (CAF Secondary) and read the information online (Moving On booklet). You can apply online or on paper. You do not need to do both. Contact the Council (see details below) if you need them to send you a paper form by email or post.

If you live in England but outside Oxfordshire, visit your local Council website for more information about how to apply.

In Year Transfer

If your son has already started in Secondary School and would like to transfer to St Birinus, you will need to apply via Oxfordshire County Council by visiting this website: https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/apply-school-place/year-transfers 

Oxfordshire County Council School Admissions Team Contact Details

School Admissions Team, Oxfordshire County Council
County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND

Tel: 0345 241 2487

Email; admissions.schools@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Web: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/admissions

Y6 Primary Visits

Throughout September, we visit the Year 6 boys who attend primary schools within the Didcot Area Partnership. A senior member of staff, and current SBS students, deliver a presentation to the pupils and their parents, giving them information about our school and an idea of what life at St Birinus School is like.

For any families with boys attending primary schools outside the Didcot Area Partnership, we will be holding a presentation evening in September, details will follow.

Key Dates for Rising Year 7s each year

Our Year 7 Pupil Admission Number (PAN) is 240 for September 2025 entry

Applications

Applications open: early September each year

Closing date for applications: national closing date (31st October each year)

School offers sent out by the Council (on behalf of the school): national Offer Day (1 March each year or next working day). Emails are sent for those who apply online. Letters are sent (by second-class post) for those who apply on paper.

If you miss the National Closing Date, you can still apply online or on paper. Visit the Council website (see above).

Everyone who applies online by National Closing Date (31 October each year) will receive an email on National Offer Day (1 March each year or next working day) with details of the school offer for their child. The email may be the only formal notification sent. A letter will be sent (by second-class post) where an application was not online or where the first preference school was not offered or where the Council needs to send additional information.

Those who apply online will be able to respond online to accept or decline the place or change preferences or join waiting lists for schools where a place was not offered. Acceptance forms will be sent by post to those who did not apply online.

Welcome letter for September intake for Year 7 sent from St Birinus School during March each year (after National Offer Day).

We hold an Open Evening and series of Open Mornings every year in September/October to which all prospective families are welcome to attend. We also hold an evening, with www.didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk/, for potential applicants into our mixed sixth form in November. Information about all of these events is clearly signed on our website well in advance of the events themselves.

To view our admissions arrangements please view the relevant documents below.

Click here to view the appeals procedure:

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/starting-school/school-appeals