Ages 
A leading prep boarding school that is familial, quirky and unashamedly traditional. Confident and well-adjusted pupils work hard, play hard and jump at the many, varied opportunities on offer. Limited tech, larking in the fresh air, the beautiful setting and first-class education are all key elements in arcadian Cothill. We’ve no doubt the girls will love it just as much as the boys.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 160 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- Day £27,390; Boarding £42,090 pa
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Head
Mr George May
Since September 2023, George May, previously senior housemaster and drama teacher at Radley College. Educated at Aysgarth Prep and Eton College and has a first-class degree in architectural history from Edinburgh. He then spent two years at LAMDA and
Entrance
Gentle admissions process is one-to-one with strictly no tech (a Cothill USP) designed to put children at ease and draw out their best. It’s ‘broad entry, tight exit’ and whether place offered depends largely on character and fit. A good level of
- Open days
- February, March, May, October
Exit
Everyone leaves at 13+ for the big boarding schools including Eton, Radley, Oundle, Harrow, Winchester and Stowe. Strong scholarship record year on year – eight in 2025 (two music to Eton; academic to Abingdon, art to Radley; all-rounder to Stowe;
Latest results
There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.
Teaching & learning
Learning support & SEN
Boarders
Main building houses all boarding apart from years 4 and 5. Year group dorms (around 12 in a room, mixed up termly) are organised in a quirky Monopoly board coloured system. They compete for the weekly tidiness award which keeps a tight ship.
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 Cothill is unashamedly a mobile phone free school. Boarders often use them for travel and hand them in on arrival. We have landline phones so boarders can call home and keep in touch and the school secretary is always there to help with communications home too. Staff take phones to fixtures and trips to keep in touch. We otherwise find we are busy enough that there is no need to have them!
Pupils
Money matters
A 25 per cent reduction in fees for parent in the Forces. Means-tested bursaries are also available.
- Fee information
- Day £27,390; Boarding £42,090 pa
Our view
On the edge of Cothill village, site is secluded with a low-key entrance – it’s a school which doesn’t feel the need to shout. In 25 acres of playing fields and over 200 acres of woodland, you might easily forget it’s so close to Oxford as well as a
The last word
A leading prep boarding school that is familial, quirky and unashamedly traditional. Confident and well-adjusted pupils work hard, play hard and jump at the many, varied opportunities on offer. Limited tech, larking in the fresh air, the beautiful
