Ages 
We came away from Bloxham very chipper, having spent the day with straightforward, engaging, amusing pupils and teachers who have refreshingly little to prove. To find a co-ed boarding school which has stayed grounded, without succumbing to the swankiness that we see elsewhere, was a real treat; a school with unusual warmth, offering traditional values whilst adapting to modern family life with a flexible, unfussy offering.
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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 575 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 171 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- C of E
- Fees
- Day £25,290; Boarding £37,170 - £47,910 pa
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Headmaster
Mr Paul Sanderson
Since 2013, Paul Sanderson. Grew up in northern Ireland and taught at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Oundle and Carr Hill High before Gordonstoun as housemaster and deputy head. Has now seen through a couple of generations, ‘but OBs [Old
Entrance
Fifty-six places into year 7. Entry via year 6 assessment morning which includes interview, English, maths and reasoning interspersed with fun activities. Many join from raft of local primaries.
Another 54 places in year 9, mostly to prep school
- Open days
- Please see website for details
Exit
A few leave after GCSE, often to bigger or more vocational settings. The majority that stay will go to university, two-thirds to Russell Group, with Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol UWE, Oxford Brookes all recently popular. Advice around vocational
Latest results
School says it does not publish results for GCSEs and A levels. The last ones we have were from 2021: 59 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 40 per cent A*/A at A level (74 per cent A*-B).
Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
An unsnobbish approach to academics and a real focus on providing breadth and choice, including BTECs in hospitality and sport and a CTEC in business, taken alongside A levels. Most popular options tend to be business, geography, biology and maths.
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Most SEN support is delivered by subject teachers within lessons; no teaching assistants within class. Just over seven per cent receive support outside of lessons including for group sessions, called ACE (Attainment, Communication and Engagement), to
Arts & extracurricular
Music is about getting everyone involved. Musicians of the Future programme gives year 7 students six hours of free instrumental lessons and then gets them up on stage; violinists recently performed a Coldplay number, cleverly arranged so that the
Sport
In a school of only 600, everyone has to take part, and take part they do – sport occupies a fair amount of time and headspace here. ‘They all play sport, it’s sporty,’ says one parent, though when they’re playing in the higher leagues, ‘they are
Boarders
Mostly day places in years 7 and 8, who are in their own co-ed house; boarding numbers rise sharply from the start of year 9. Four boys’ houses and three girls’ houses, all vertical from year 9. Dorms for everyone until sixth form, when students go
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1859 by Philip Reginald Egerton, a curate from Deddington; he actually bought the buildings from another local curate, John Hewett, who’d had a false start in setting up his own school in the village. Both men were connected to the Oxford
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Year 7s join Exham House, a cosy school-within-a-school that parents say is brilliant preparation for the big wide world of year 9. A great transition from primary to boarding school, this entry point has grown significantly in recent years. Older
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Bloxham School’s policy is written to help students develop strategies to manage their screen time and social media interactions alongside their academic studies and personal development. Students in first to fifth form may use their mobile devices within their boarding houses outside of tutor time, lessons and activities. Boarders’ devices are handed in overnight. Sixth form students are responsible for the appropriate use of their mobile devices. Their devices must not be used within public areas of the school and must be turned off during lessons. Sixth form boarders are encouraged to make informed decisions about handing devices overnight.
Pupils & parents
Families are relatively local, harking from Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and into Hertfordshire. Some London boarders. ‘You don’t want to have to travel three hours, parents want to be part of their
Money matters
Means-tested bursaries available for those who require further financial support. Academic scholarships, art, DT, drama, music and sport up for grabs at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
- Fee information
- Day £25,290; Boarding £37,170 - £47,910 pa
The last word
We came away from Bloxham very chipper, having spent the day with straightforward, engaging, amusing pupils and teachers who have refreshingly little to prove. To find a co-ed boarding school which has stayed grounded, without succumbing to the
