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Reviewed

Pinewood

Independent school · Shrivenham, SN6 8HZ
  • Primary/prep
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 3-13
  • From £13,935 pa
  • 400 pupils
  • Boarding
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

Friendly, outdoorsy and forward thinking, Pinewood School is quietly producing happy, rounded pupils with a strong understanding of themselves as individuals and as valued members of the school community. Across all subjects, children are given both literal and metaphorical space to try, perhaps to fail and to try again. Pinewood understands that this is how to develop profound learning but also grit and character. Confidence comes with clear progression and there’s much fun to be had in the process. If you’re looking for a snooty hothouse or a formulaic, pristine approach, keep looking.

Why read our school review?

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
400 ·
Offers boarding
Yes ·
Religion
None
Fees
Day £13,935 - £26,820; weekly boarding + £7,219pa
Local authority
Oxfordshire County Council
Area guides

Headteacher

Head

Neal Bailey

Since 2020, Neal Bailey. Read international business management at University of Newcastle then eight years in London as an investment manager. Delighted by his (teacher) wife’s accounts of fulfilling and diverse school days, Mr B decided to jump


Entrance

Non-selective and co-ed. Children can start nursery from the term they turn three but open toddler mornings on select Fridays (free of charge) are a good introduction beforehand. Two taster days for year 3 upwards with informal assessments in

Open days
Thursday 2nd October 2025

Exit

Vast majority stay until the end of year 8 but a small number leave after year 6 for independent day schools. Marlborough College is currently the most popular destination but others head to Radley, Bradfield, Cheltenham, Tudor Hall, Eton,


Latest results

There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.


Teaching & learning

7:1
Pupil to teacher ratio
15
Average class sizes

Learning support & SEN

0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
19.2 %
Students with SEN support

Boarders

Popular, especially by year 8, with about 90 per cent participation. Warm, caring and dynamic boarding staff alongside entertaining evening activities such as laser tag, as well as time-honoured spotlight and hide and seek are just some of the

127
Total boarders
7
Weekly boarders
120
Flexi boarders

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

Pupils are not allowed mobile phones at school.

Updated Jun 2024

Pupils

400
Number of pupils

Money matters

Pinewood offers means-tested bursaries and support in securing continued financial assistance at linked senior schools. For more information contact the bursar.

Fee information
Day £13,935 - £26,820; weekly boarding + £7,219pa

Our view

Founded in 1875, Pinewood is one of the oldest prep schools in the country. Initially nomadic with a few different locations, it settled in the village of Bourton on the Wiltshire/Oxfordshire border in 1946. Set in 84 acres of rolling countryside,


The last word

Friendly, outdoorsy and forward thinking, Pinewood School is quietly producing happy, rounded pupils with a strong understanding of themselves as individuals and as valued members of the school community. Across all subjects, children are given both

What the school says

At Pinewood, we nurture values of kindness, curiosity, perseverance and respect. We focus on instilling a love and passion for learning from the earliest entry point, preparing children for top independent senior schools. Many move on with scholarships and other awards, but more than that, we aim to develop the whole child. At Pinewood, education is not just about academic success in the classroom, theatre, music halls or sports pitches, it is also about developing self-awareness, emotional intelligence and strength of character, all while ensuring a joyful childhood in the picturesque rolling countryside.

Contact the school

Address

Bourton
Shrivenham
Wiltshire
SN6 8HZ
Get directions

Have you considered?

Reviewed

Cothill

Independent school · Abingdon, OX13 6JL ( miles)
  • Primary/prep
  • Co-ed
  • 7-13
  • From £26,592 pa
  • 150 pupils
  • Boarding
Photo of Cothill
School data & information Pinewood Bourton, Shrivenham, Wiltshire, SN6 8HZ
400 Pupil numbers
220/ 180 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
127 Total boarders
7 Weekly boarders
120 Flexi boarders
15 Average class sizes
7:1 Pupil to teacher ratio

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Pupils are not allowed mobile phones at school.

Updated Jun 2024

We do not receive results data for this school. Find out more.

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Recent leavers' destinations

SEN overview

Pinewood is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Pinewood has one full-time and three part-time, specialist SpLD teachers in our learning skills department. We are able to cater for most mild to moderate specific difficulties of a dyslexic, dyscalculic, dyspraxic, ADHD or autistic nature, along with EAL needs, but would welcome early discussion to ensure that we are able to offer appropriate support. Support may be in the classroom, in small groups, or one-to-one as appropriate. We also offer wellbeing and emotional support where appropriate. It would be unusual for us to accept a child with significant behavioural difficulties.

Updated Nov 2023
0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 3%
19.2 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 14.1%

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment Yes
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health Yes
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired
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