Oxford High School GDST, Oxford | The Good Schools Guide

Oxford High School GDST
Belbroughton Road
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX2 6XA
Head: Mrs Marina Gardiner Legge
T 01865 559888
F 01865 552343
E [email protected]
W oxfordhigh.gdst.net/
A mainstream independent school for girls aged from 11 to 18 with a linked junior school
Boarding: No
Local authority: Oxfordshire
Pupils: 592; sixth formers: 118
Religion: Non-denominational
Fees: £16,089 pa
Open days: Check website for virtual meetings
Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
ISI report: View the ISI report
Linked schools: Oxford High Preparatory School

What The Good Schools Guide says..

Locals will tell you that OHS is not the poshest or the shiniest local school but with its lack of pushy marketing is highly authentic in its offering and, dare we say it, not as catty as some. Focus is on girls’ intellectual agility; creative problem-solving rather than spoon-feeding, and with all that Oxford offers on its doorstep, exposure to world class influencers is inevitable. Cast an eye over the pupil-produced annual school magazine. With a theme that changes annually (most recently OHS! in the style of OK!) it’s packed with wit, humour and opinion...

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What the school says...

Oxford High School is Oxford’s oldest girls’ school, a leading independent day school based in the heart of Oxford for girls aged 4 to 18 years.
We are a vibrant and happy school full of bright, clever, interesting pupils. We have a wealth of alumnae who have become leaders in their chosen fields across the world, and we consistently have high academic results at GCSE and A Level.
We encourage our girls to be ambitious in all areas of life, to develop self-confidence, aware of the impact of their actions on those they care about, on the wider world and upon themselves. We live life to the full, proud of our past and preparing for the future.

Oxford High School is one of 25 Girls’ Day School Trust schools. All GDST schools share a common set of values that support our aims and place girls first. ...Read more

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Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Sports

Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.

Rowing

Fencing

Shooting

Sailing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmistress

Since January 2021, Marina Gardiner Legge, previously headmistress at Heathfield School for four years (she was director of studies for three years before that). Was governor at Fox Hill Primary School during 2019 and 2020. Has MA in English language and literature from Oxford, PGCE in English language and literature from Hong Kong University and masters in educational leadership from Buckingham.

Entrance

Academically selective, school says girls ‘above average at primary school should have a go’. At 11, about half move up from OHS Prep with about two-thirds of the remainder in ones and twos from state primaries. The move between prep and senior school is no longer a shoo-in; former head ruffled a few feathers when he promptly tightened up entrance requirements when he took up post, although about 85 per cent currently make the...

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Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)

Results by exam and subject

Subject results

Entry/Exit

Special Education Needs

The Learning Support department at OHS works with subject teachers to identify and support girls with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). The focus is on empowerment, with tutorials and small group sessions to consolidate strengths and discover strategies to take advantage of these, not only at school but throughout girls’ lives. We recognise that students with SEND are no less likely to achieve the best grades in public exams or be offered places at the most competitive universities, and are proud that the progress made by girls with SEND at Oxford High School matches or exceeds that of their peers. Many girls at Oxford High School speak languages other than English and a few speak English as an additional language (EAL). The Learning Support department offers support to those who require this.

Who came from where

School	Year	Places
Beachborough School	2020
Chandlings Prep School	2020
The Junior King's School	2020	1

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