Previously a community school administered by Oxfordshire County Council, the school became a specialist science college in 2005. The Cooper School converted to academy status on 1 July 2014 within Bernwode Schools Trust, however, the school continues to coordinate with Oxfordshire County Council for admissions.The school joined the Acer trust in January 2024.
The Cooper School is currently rated 'Requires improvement' by Ofsted after an inspection in November 2022.[2]
In 2011 a new sixth-form building, called the Post 16 Centre, was constructed and opened to students in September of the same year. The current head of sixth form at The Cooper School is Jennifer Post, and there are currently over 200 students in Years 12 and 13.