Founded in 1860 and given to the Woodard Corporation in 1896. It has a very agreeable setting in the village of Bloxham, between Banbury and Oxford and close to the M40. Its handsome buildings of local stone lie in 60 acres of gardens and playing fields. There is comfortable modern accommodation and facilities include a fine music school, art school, IT suites and technology centre (all pupils from Year 10 are issued with a laptop). An Anglican foundation, the chapel acts as a focus for the school but pupils of other faiths are welcomed and special arrangements can be made for them to attend their own churches. Girls have been admitted to the sixth form since the early seventies and the school became fully co-educational in 1998. A sound general education is provided and examination results are good. Drama, sport, music, technology and art are well catered for. A wide range of sports and games is available and there are numerous extra-curricular activities. Each pupil has the option of training with the CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is popular.
Pupils: Total age range, 11-18, 422 pupils, 207 day (133 boys, 74 girls), 215 boarding (141 boys, 74 girls). Senior department 13-18, 350 pupils (205 boys, 145 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Common Entrance (from prep schools) or own exam (for others) used. For sixth form entry, report from school, interview and 5 GCSEs at least grade C. State school entry 60% at 11+, up to 10% at 13+, 15% to sixth form. Feeder schools include Beachborough, Winchester House, Bilton Grange, The Croft, Swanbourne.
Variable number of scholarships (value up to 40% fees) and bursaries.
Headmaster: Mark Allbrook, appointed 2002. Educated at Tonbridge and Cambridge University (classics). Previously Deputy Head at Felsted and Housemaster at Hurstpierpoint. Formerly county cricketer with Nottinghamshire CCC. Teaching staff: 40 full time, 5 part time.
GCSE: 70 pupils in fifth; 84% gain at least grade C in 8+ subjects, 10% in 5-7 subjects. A-levels: 75 in upper sixth; 47% pass in 4+ subjects, 27% in 3, 13% in 2 subjects - achieving an average final point score of 295.
98% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (15% after a gap year). 4% took courses in medicine, law, dentistry and veterinary science, 22% in science and engineering, 61% in humanities and social sciences, 9% in art and design.
GCSE, AS and A-levels. 18 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level. 21% take science A-levels; 34% arts/humanities; 45% both. Key skills: ICT compulsory in lower sixth (unless taking AS-level). Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Dyslexia unit (5 pupils per year, IQ greater than 120); EFL. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges to Germany and Spain. Several European pupils in school. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum, eg spreadsheets in maths. 100 computers for pupil use (12 hours a day), all on wireless network and with email, and with internet access. Laptops for all pupils in Year 10.
Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Several musical groups including woodwind ensembles, brass groups, guitar groups, string ensembles and vocal groups. Regular concerts. Some pupils play in youth and other orchestras outside school. Drama: Drama offered; A-level theatre studies offered. Some pupils are involved in school productions and majority in house/other productions. Considerable success with pupils directing their own plays. Art and design: On average, 28 take GCSE, 14 A-level. Design, textiles, pottery, photography also offered.
Sport: Rugby, hockey, cricket compulsory up to third form for boys; netball, hockey for girls. Additional options (fourth form up): cross-country, fencing, squash, fives, athletics, swimming, polo, tennis, fencing, badminton, basketball, rounders, equestrian sports, clay-pigeon shooting, polo. County representatives in rugby, hockey, cross-country, badminton, athletics and netball. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF and community service optional for 4-6 years. Up to 15 clubs, eg art, electronics, chess, debating, photography, computer, science, play-reading.
Uniform: School uniform worn; dress code in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Prefects, head of house and house prefects. Religion: Some services compulsory; school is Anglican foundation. Social: Skiing trips, sports tours etc.
Pupils failing to produce homework once could expect counselling; those caught smoking cannabis on the premises could expect expulsion.
All fifth and sixth formers have own study bedroom. 4 boys' houses, 2 girls' and lower school house. Weekly boarding for 11-12 year olds. Central dining room. Pupils can provide and cook snacks.
John Seargent (journalist), Tom Sharpe (novelist), Gerald Howarth (Conservative MP).
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