Ages 
Stowe has left the sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll behind while maintaining its sense of fun and developing a thoroughly modern approach to learning and pastoral care. Plenty of opportunity for first XV or Oxbridge if that’s what’s right, but your child will not be forced down that path; space for the unconventional and eccentricity too. An Enlightenment 18th-century setting for the enlightened 21st-century parent. We think it’s a winner.
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.
Unlock to access
Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 906 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 400 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- Day £32,449 - £ 38,277; Boarding £53,239 pa
- Local authority
- Buckinghamshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Head
Dr A Wallersteiner
Since 2003, Dr Anthony Wallersteiner MA PhD. History at Cambridge, doctorate in art history and theory at University of Kent. Taught history at Sherborne, St Paul’s and Tonbridge before arriving as head.
Passion for art, progressive approach to
Entrance
For 13+, offers are now unconditional and not dependent on Common Entrance. Offers are made on ISEB pre-tests, CAT4 or UKiset scores, plus an interview, school report and reference. Fed mainly by prep schools – in particular Beachborough, Dragon,
- Open days
- Third Form - October, January, March & May, Sixth Form - September & April
Exit
Around 15 per cent leave after GCSEs. For year 13, range of destinations reflects range of academic profiles. Durham, Exeter, Newcastle, Oxford Brookes and Bristol popular recently. More study business and management than anything else. One medic in
Latest results
In 2023, 60 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 37 per cent A*/A at A level (65 per cent A*-B). In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 45 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 33 per cent A*/A at A level (68 per cent A*-B).
A level - 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
‘Education is about drawing out – teachers are coaches and mentors,’ says head – ‘the guide on the side’ rather than ‘the sage on the stage’. ‘Dead Poets Society is the worst film ever about teaching – Robin Williams stands on a table and the only
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Twenty-seven pupils receive specialist support from ‘skills department’. Group or one-to-one sessions as needed, all included within fees. Around the same number receive EAL support from specialist department.
Arts & extracurricular
We could only get superlatives out of parents when it came to arts. ‘Outstanding’, ‘worlds apart’, ‘superb’. Relatively recent Chung Music School houses 24 Steinways including a grand in the recital hall. A third of pupils learn an instrument, many
Sport
Rugby main sport for the boys, with five senior teams. Lacrosse for the girls, played across two terms. We watched girls putting Radley boys in their place on the pitch – far from a jolly, it looked seriously competitive out there. Weekend fixtures
Boarders
School has recently relaxed the approach to full boarding so pupils can go home every weekend. Parents’ reactions mixed (though current parents hadn’t, of course, signed up for a weekly boarding school): ‘We liked the fact that they wouldn’t be
Ethos & heritage
We’ve seen some serious school buildings in our time, but this takes the biscuit. We knew we were in for a treat (the school famously occupies the Grade I listed Stowe House) but the National Trust-owned parkland around it – ornamental lakes,
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Eight boys’, four girls’ and one co-ed (for sixth form) house – all central to pastoral care for day pupils and boarders. PSHE programme delivered (unusually) by subject specialists and augmented by staff from medical centre, chaplaincy, peer support
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 The way in which electronic devices are being managed at Stowe is as follows: • Third, Fourth and Fifth Form pupils may not have access to their phones during lesson time, and may collect them from Houseparents after activities have finished at 17:00. They may have laptops in lessons as required. • All phones will be handed out at 12pm on Saturday once lessons have ended. • All Third, Fourth and Fifth Form pupils are required to hand in their mobile phones before second prep at 19:30 to ensure they do not act as a distraction. They may have access to their phones after prep. • All Third and Fourth Form pupils are required to hand in their phones, laptops and other electronic devices 15 minutes before their lights out in dormitories or rooms. • All Fifth Form pupils are required to hand in their phones before bed, but may retain their laptops on the understanding that they will be confiscated for a period of time if they are found to be using them late at night. We have allowed Fifth Form pupils to retain their laptops to give them some degree of responsibility in self-regulation. • The Fifth Form pupils may keep their phones on a Saturday night at the discretion of their HouseParent. • If they have brought them to School, day pupils’ phones will be collected before the start of the School day in Houses, and they may collect them after activities.
• Phones may be required at other random points in the day or week and will be given out as directed by Staff who are running a particular activity. We are confident that parents will fully support us in protecting good quality sleep and mental health for Stoics, and ensuring we create the best learning environment possible for them. We also recognise that education is an equally important part of this process, and Houseparents will help explain the rationale behind this policy, and why we believe it to be in the best interests of the pupils.
Pupils & parents
Day pupils now make up a quarter: lots coming in by minibus from across Bucks and Northants (no public transport to speak of here). Parents with a creative bent, looking for something a little different to the more traditional offering or just living
Money matters
Academic scholarships along with music, art, drama, sport, equestrian, design, golf and original thinking. Change 100 bursary programme aims to raise £100m to fund 100 places in perpetuity – first cohort of boys and girls already benefiting.
- Fee information
- Day £32,449 - £ 38,277; Boarding £53,239 pa
The last word
Stowe has left the sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll behind while maintaining its sense of fun and developing a thoroughly modern approach to learning and pastoral care. Plenty of opportunity for first XV or Oxbridge if that’s what’s right, but your child
