Ages 
Grafters, self-starters and competitive Carolines will get from Wycombe Abbey exactly what their parents sent them there for: A-stars, a glittering array of achievements for their personal statement and a place at a world leading university – not to mention the grit to take on all-comers and the work ethic to tackle the most demanding careers. Such girls will emerge from the experience with a high-flying army of friends for life (and possibly an Etonian boyfriend). Parents of the ‘just want Camilla to be happy’ school of thought, however, should look elsewhere.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 650 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 180 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- Anglican
- Fees
- Day £46,800; Boarding £61,500 pa
- Local authority
- Buckinghamshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Headmistress
Jo Duncan
Since 2019, Jo Duncan, previously head of the Royal High School, Bath. Hails from Northern Ireland (‘still home’) where she attended a girls’ grammar school before St Andrews (English and theology), sights set on a career in the law. A prophetic A
Entrance
Competitive, although less so than you might think, especially for those also considering London day schools. Around 300 apply for 85 places at 11+, about 200 for 15-20 places at 13+ and 190 for 15-20 places at 16+. Worth a call if you’re applying
- Open days
- September
Exit
About 10 per cent leave after GCSEs most years, usually in pursuit of co-education, with the largest number of these heading to Westminster and others to a mixture of co-ed boarding and occasionally high-performing state schools. But with 17 Oxbridge
Latest results
In 2025, 97 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 76 per cent A*/A at A level (92 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
In the exam results Olympics, Wycombe goes for gold. Parents report (mainly, but not exclusively) ‘faultless’ teaching, with the overriding aim to deliver a clean sheet of stellar grades at GCSE and A level. ‘It doesn’t happen by accident,’ reckon
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Department busier than one might expect. All girls screened on entry with just a small number diagnosed at this point. Pupils this bright are masters of working around issues and school says more come to light as they progress through school –
Arts & extracurricular
Everything you’d expect on offer and a super array of facilities in which to carry out chosen endeavour, with little hand-holding or coercion; onus very much on girls themselves to go and grab the opportunities. Some parents grumbled that girls can
Sport
Hugely busy sports department, delivering the full spectrum of offerings from elite to inclusive. Fab facilities from breathtaking outdoor pitches to a fully equipped sports centre (Olympic-sized pool, climbing wall, fencing salle, squash courts,
Boarders
Full boarding or day (around 10 per cent are day pupils), nothing in between. Less ‘all or nothing’ than it used to be, with school now quite flexible about girls going home at weekends. Some of the loveliest boarding accommodation we’ve seen is
Ethos & heritage
Readers familiar with High Wycombe’s Marlow Hill will understand when we say that first sightings of the school from this aspect are, at best, austere and at worst, bleak. Happily, mere moments after a sharp right turn at the foot of the hill, eyes
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Outstanding pastoral care isn’t the first thing you think of, and not every parent we spoke to sang its praises, but for those with daughters who had genuinely needed intervention during their time here (with eg mental health problems, eating
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 Year 7-10: Pupils keep their mobile phones in house throughout the school day. In the evenings, there is increased restriction to mobile phones for year 7-9. Year 8-9: Pupils have 60 minutes max on their mobile phones between 8pm and 9pm Monday to Friday. They can use their mobile phones before school each morning to be able to speak with families across different time zones. Year 11-13: Pupils in these year groups will continue to adopt the guidance terminology of ‘never used, seen or heard’. All pupils have an increased number of areas across the school where no devices are permitted to be used.
Pupils & parents
By and large, a school with more than its fair share of wealthy parents. Not so much the green welly brigade (although there are some), more the global elite: hard-working, successful, with clear ideas about education; discerning, highly educated
Money matters
Fees tipping over the £45K mark not an issue for most parents. Seven per cent of cohort (around 30 girls) on full bursaries; head has ambition to increase this in the coming years. Academic and music scholarships (‘not a big thing – we ask parents to
- Fee information
- Day £46,800; Boarding £61,500 pa
The last word
Grafters, self-starters and competitive Carolines will get from Wycombe Abbey exactly what their parents sent them there for: A-stars, a glittering array of achievements for their personal statement and a place at a world leading university – not to
