Abingdon School
At Abingdon, we aim to teach and develop the resources, skills and resilience needed for young people to feel confident in embracing their future. We encourage our pupils to seize opportunities and to appreciate their responsibilities – both to each other and to society as a whole. Abingdon promotes a culture of mutual respect and equality and we celebrate diversity.
Abingdon enjoys the very best in academic standards, music, sport and the arts. Academically, lessons are characterised by a high degree of challenge, driven by inspirational teachers using established and successful teaching methods blended with the most effective of innovations. Extracurricularly, we recognise that what a student does in the classroom is only half the reason they are at school and we are rightly proud of the extensive activities on offer through our ‘Other Half’ programme. Whether it’s sport, the arts, CCF, journalism, film making, playing in an orchestra or sitting down for a game of chess, the opportunities are plenty and there for the taking.
Most important of all is the health and wellbeing of our students and the School has a comprehensive pastoral care system centred around a boy’s tutor and housemaster. This system transforms a relatively large community into smaller sections, providing a close and friendly atmosphere which promotes identity and belonging. It provides older students with responsibility and experience and younger pupils with support, friendship and advice from those further up the School.
Category: Senior, Sixth Form
Pupils: Boys
Type: Boarding and Day
Religious Affiliation: Christian, Non-Denominational
Roll: 1050 Boys / 0 Girls
Day pupils: 900
Boarder Number: 150
Age Range: 11-18 Years
Founded: 1256
Location Description
Abingdon School is situated in 35 acres of beautiful grounds in the centre of the historic market town of Abingdon, 6 miles south of the University City of Oxford. It is also conveniently located for access London and Heathrow and Gatwick international airports.
School Contact Details
Headteacher: Michael Windsor
Contact for enquiries:Julia Cooke
Park Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 1DE
Tel: 01235 521563
Email: admissions@abingdon.org.uk
Facilities
We are fortunate to have extensive facilities at Abingdon. These include a 446 seat theatre; a science centre housing 21 teaching laboratories, study areas, project rooms and preparatory rooms; a dedicated sixth form centre; library; arts centre; Sports Centre and swimming pool; Humanities centre; and dedicated DT workshop. In addition to our main 35 acre site, we have further facilities at Tilsley Park multi purpose sports grounds; our boat club; and Cox’s fields which is situated at our Prep School.
In 2023, Abingdon completed the most significant renovation of its boarding accommodation in its history. The aim was to significantly enhance the boarding experience for boarders so they felt comfortably ‘at home’ at school, whilst having purpose-built facilities which would support their academic work, hone their extracurricular pursuits and put them at the heart of the school’s extended community. In fruition, the ‘university’ style accommodation has communal House rooms with kitchen facilities; break-out areas with large sofas and bean bags; games including table tennis, table football and pool – all deliberately arranged to support friendships between Abingdon’s boarding and day communities, facilitate down-time and social events. There are dedicated ‘quiet’ study areas so that boarders have somewhere (other than bedrooms) to concentrate on their academic work as well as music practice rooms. Boarders additionally have use of their own kitchenettes and contemporary shower rooms. All bedrooms are larger and have washbasins. Each has a capacity of between 2 and 3 students (with single rooms for sixth formers).
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded for academic excellence, art, design & technology, drama, music and sport.
At 11+, there are a number of academic and music awards available, which are held for the duration of Lower School.
At 13+, academic and music scholarships are offered, with assessments taking place in the spring of Year 8. Students must first have a confirmed offer of a place at the school. Art, design & technology, drama and sport scholarships are also offered, but not until after joining Abingdon School, at the end of the third year.
At 16+, academic, music, sport, art, design & technology and drama scholarships are offered.
At least 20 major scholarships are awarded each year and are open to both external and internal candidates. Pupils can hold more than one scholarship or award.
Scholarships and the 11+ Academic and All Rounder awards entitle the holder to a nominal fee remission of £300 per annum. However, as is the case for all pupils, there is an option to apply for further financial assistance through a means-tested bursary which can be worth up to 100% of day fees.
The amount of a bursary is not influenced by the academic ability of the pupil (although he must meet the School’s entry requirements) but rather by the extent of individual financial need. Bursaries are awarded to pupils who are likely to gain most from an Abingdon education and who will contribute fully to the life of the School.
Our 2023 ‘Giving Day’ brought together our entire Abingdon community to help raise funds for bursaries.
We have an extensive partnership programme both through our Abingdon School in Partnership and as one of the founding members of the OX14 Learning Partnership.
Entrance Requirements
11+: School’s own exam, reference from current school and interview.
13+: From prep schools (other than Abingdon Prep) – School’s own exam, reference from current school and interview (in Year 7). Offers are given to boys in Year 7 for places for the Third Year (Year 9). Offers are subject to boys maintaining the level of academic progress and extra-curricular profile, in Years 7 and 8 at their prep or current schools, that is deemed appropriate for Abingdon School. Offers are not conditional on passing Common Entrance or other similar exams.
Transfer Process from Abingdon Prep School – Pupils, for whom Abingdon School is an appropriate next step, receive an offer of a place for Year 9 at Abingdon School at the end of Year 5. The offer is based on the continuous assessment of each Abingdon Prep pupil during the years up to and including Year 5. There is no separate entrance examination – which is a requirement for boys from other prep schools. The offer is subject to a pupil maintaining his profile of achievement in Years 6 to 8 at Abingdon Prep.
Sixth Form: School’s own exam, reference from current school and interview. Grade 7 required at GCSE for the subjects chosen to study (grade 8 if Further Maths is an A level choice). An average of 6 is needed across all GCSE grades.
Fees
2023/2024
Day fee: £7,825 per term (£23,475 per annum)
Weekly boarding fee: £13,030 per term (£39,090 per annum)
Full boarding fee: £15,960 per term (£47,880 per annum)
Affiliations/Memberships
BSA, HMC, ISI, IAPS
Downloadable Resources
OPEN DAYS
All visits are welcome, please contact the school
We hold a whole school open morning once a year in the autumn. This gives prospective families the opportunity to come and experience Abingdon for themselves.
Throughout the course of the year, prospective parents are also welcome to book one of our Discover Abingdon mornings. These provide the opportunity to have a tour of the school on a normal working day, hear from our Head and other key members of staff.
Private tours are also available.
For details or to book, please view visit Abingdon, tel +44 (0)1235 849041 or email admissions@abingdon.org.uk