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School profile Verified 17 July 2026

Buckinghamshire Private schools

Akeley Wood Senior School

Akeley Wood Senior School, Bycell Road, MK18 5AE

Akeley Wood Senior School is a private secondary-stage school in Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire, with a published age range of 11-18.

Private school Co-ed Ages 11-18 Sixth form No boarders Individual
Application ?
Apply direct to school
Age range
11-18
ISI ?
Standards met
Boarding ?
No boarders
Compare Official website Map

On this page

At a glance

Key facts

Sector
Private school
Gender
Mixed
Application ?
Individual
Age range
11-18
Boarding ?
No boarders
Route check
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
ISI ?
Standards met

Overview

Akeley Wood is a co-educational day school operating across three Buckinghamshire campuses. Secondary pupils aged 11 to 16 study at Akeley Wood House, while Sixth Form pupils move to the separate AW6 campus at Tile House Mansion nearby. The Senior School therefore has its own identity within the wider all-through school rather than sharing a site with the Junior School.

The Senior School combines historic buildings with specialist rooms for science, art, textiles, design technology, food and nutrition, film, drama and music technology. Its GCSE curriculum includes traditional subjects alongside options such as Film Studies and Music Technology. Friday afternoons are reserved for an Enriched Curriculum programme, and the wooded campus supports outdoor learning as well as sport.

For families considering the full secondary journey, the two-campus arrangement is the central practical detail: Years 7 to 11 are based at Akeley Wood House, but post-GCSE study takes place at AW6. Visits should therefore include the campus relevant to the immediate entry point and, where Sixth Form continuity matters, Tile House Mansion as well.

Key points
Assessment route
Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
Places and demand
Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
Catchment
Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
Results
53.6% grade 5+ in English and maths and 47.3 Attainment 8
Sixth form
Sixth form available with 4.3% AAB or better.

GCSE benchmark

Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Buckinghamshire and England.

School Local authority England
GCSE benchmark comparison Latest GCSE benchmark measures for Akeley Wood Senior School, Buckinghamshire, and England. 0 50 100 Att. 8 5+ E&M EBacc APS EBacc %
Attainment 8
47.3
Grade 5+ English and maths
53.6%
EBacc APS
4.08
EBacc entry
20.2%

Attainment 8 trend

Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Buckinghamshire and England.

School Local authority England
Attainment 8 trend line Attainment 8 over time for Akeley Wood Senior School, Buckinghamshire, and England. 70 60 50 40 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25

School details
Sector
Private school
School type
Other independent school
Funding
Independent fee-paying
Application
Apply direct to school
Gender
Mixed
Age range
11-18
Headteacher
Mrs Vanessa Conlan
Pupil roll
380 pupils
Sixth form
Yes

Location and contact

Address

Address
Akeley Wood Senior School, Bycell Road, Akeley, Buckinghamshire
Postcode
MK18 5AE
Area
Buckinghamshire

School leadership

Headteacher
Mrs Vanessa Conlan

School contact

School phone
01280814110

Admissions contact

Admissions team
Admissions
Admissions email
admissions@akeleywoodschool.co.uk
Admissions phone
01280 828122
Open in Map Open school website

Admissions
Application route
Apply direct to school
Age range
11-18
Gender
Mixed
Boarding
No boarders
Day fees
Senior School and Sixth Form tuition including VAT, 2026/27.
Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries
Entrance details
The standard process centres on a taster day, with reading, spelling, English, number skills and readiness to learn observed in class alongside a current-school report. A written English-proficiency assessment and interview may be added where language proficiency needs to be established; this is not a universal entrance test.
Admissions note
Early applications are recommended for September entry, and mid-year applications are considered when spaces allow. Registration does not guarantee a place. Applicants normally attend a taster day and provide a current school report and any relevant specialist reports so that suitability and support needs can be assessed. Overseas applicants must have the right to study in the UK and appropriate English proficiency.

Early applications are recommended for September entry, and mid-year applications are considered when spaces allow. Registration does not guarantee a place. Applicants normally attend a taster day and provide a current school report and any relevant specialist reports so that suitability and support needs can be assessed. Overseas applicants must have the right to study in the UK and appropriate English proficiency.

Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.

Oversubscription and eligibility

  1. 1

    Looked-after children

    This is the first factor that may be applied when registrations exceed the places available in a year group.

  2. 2

    Siblings at the school

    Sibling attendance is the second published factor that may be applied.

  3. 3

    Length of registration

    The length of time the applicant has been registered is the third published factor that may be applied.

  4. 4

    Children of staff

    Children of staff are the fourth published factor that may be applied.

  5. 5

    Previous-school references

    References from previous schools are the fifth published factor that may be applied.

Admissions policy

Akeley Wood School Admissions Policy

Exam and test format

Entrance route and assessment

The standard process centres on a taster day, with reading, spelling, English, number skills and readiness to learn observed in class alongside a current-school report. A written English-proficiency assessment and interview may be added where language proficiency needs to be established; this is not a universal entrance test.

Assessment route
Individual
Papers and stages
2 papers
Format
Mixed format

Papers and rounds

  1. Paper 1

    English, Maths, Other

    Taster-day suitability assessment

    During a normal day with the prospective peer group, reading, spelling, English skills, number skills and general readiness to learn are observed and assessed; a current-school report is normally requested.

  2. Paper 2

    English, Interview

    Conditional English-language assessment

    An applicant may be required to complete a written language-proficiency assessment and an in-person or online interview; non-native English speakers also meet a senior leader online for an informal language review.

Published assessment components

English, Maths and Interview are listed across the school's published assessment routes.

Published

  • English

  • Maths

  • Interview

    An applicant may be required to complete a written language-proficiency assessment and an in-person or online interview; non-native English speakers also meet a senior leader online for an informal language review.

Application

Key dates

Get date reminders

  1. Mid-year applications considered

    Any point in the academic year, subject to space

    Early applications are encouraged for September entry.

  2. Accept a written offer

    Within 7 days of the written offer

    Signed acceptance documents and the deposit are requested within this period.

How to apply

  1. 1

    Check availability with Admissions

    Contact the Admissions team to discuss the applicant, intended year group and current availability.

    Contact Admissions
  2. 2

    Visit the school

    Attend an open event or arrange a personal tour before submitting the formal application.

    Arrange a visit
  3. 3

    Submit the online application

    Complete the application form, upload the requested school and specialist reports, and pay the non-refundable registration fee.

    Apply for a place
  4. 4

    Attend a taster day

    The applicant spends time with the intended peer group while suitability, learning readiness and the ability to benefit from the school are assessed.

    Review the admissions process
  5. 5

    Accept the written offer

    Return the signed acceptance documents within seven days and pay the required deposit to secure the place.

    Check offer steps

Official admissions documents

Admissions policy

Akeley Wood School Admissions Policy

Results

Attainment snapshot

Attainment 8 ?
47.3 Attainment 8
GCSE results
53.6% grade 4+ in English and maths
Grade 5+ English and maths ?
53.6% grade 5+ in English and maths
EBacc average point score ?
4.08 EBacc APS
A-level results
4.3% AAB or better
A-level average points
30.87 A-level points per entry

Inspection
View report
Standards met

Latest inspection: 24 March 2026

Leadership, management and governance
Standards met
Quality of education, training and recreation
Standards met
Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
Standards met
Social and economic education and contribution to society
Standards met
Safeguarding
Standards met

Quick summary

  • Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2026 records an inspection beginning 24 March 2026. The report says the relevant standards were met.

Similar schools and comparisons

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Shortlist comparisons

Compare Akeley Wood Senior School with Bloxham School Compare Akeley Wood Senior School with Abingdon School Compare Akeley Wood Senior School with ACS Hillingdon International School

Explore this school in context

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Independent secondary-stage school profiles with direct-application, age range and boarding context.

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Related pages and guides

Guides and related reading

Related guides are still being added.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How does Akeley Wood Senior School handle admissions?

Akeley Wood Senior School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.

How do I apply to Akeley Wood Senior School?

1. Check availability with Admissions: Contact the Admissions team to discuss the applicant, intended year group and current availability. 2. Visit the school: Attend an open event or arrange a personal tour before submitting the formal application. 3. Submit the online application: Complete the application form, upload the requested school and specialist reports, and pay the non-refundable registration fee. 4. Attend a taster day: The applicant spends time with the intended peer group while suitability, learning readiness and the ability to benefit from the school are assessed. 5. Accept the written offer: Return the signed acceptance documents within seven days and pay the required deposit to secure the place.

When are the key dates for Akeley Wood Senior School?

Mid-year applications considered: Any point in the academic year, subject to space. Accept a written offer: Within 7 days of the written offer

What does the latest inspection picture look like for Akeley Wood Senior School?

Akeley Wood Senior School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 24 March 2026.