Chair of Board of Governors: Mrs Carol Oster Warriner, MA Oxon
Head of Prep: Mrs Jane Crouch, BA Keele, MA London, NPQH
Deputy Head (Teaching and Learning): Miss Caroline Crookes, BA Ed Exeter, MA Edgehill, NPQSL
Deputy Head (Pastoral Care): Mrs Tessa Davey, BA Cape Town
Deputy Head, Head of Boys & Pre Prep: Alex Prockter, BA Ed Hons Canterbury Christ Church
Deputy Head - Operations: Mrs Edwina West, BEd West of England
Head of Early Years: Miss Ruth Sibly, BSc Bristol
Head of Key Stage 1: Mrs Joanna Haynes, BEd Cantab
Age range. Girls and Boys 3–11.
Number of pupils. 269.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Day: £3,940–£6,027.
Following the merger between Headington School and Rye St Antony, Headington Rye Oxford Prep School opened in September 2024 on the former Rye St Antony site in Headington. The School for boys and girls aged 3–11 occupies a beautiful, secluded 12-acre oasis of green space separated from the Senior School by a pedestrianised lane, one mile from the centre of Oxford. Children benefit from a wealth of teaching expertise, unrivalled facilities and exceptional pastoral care.
The Prep School’s friendly, family atmosphere means pupils develop as happy individuals with a sense of responsibility and self-awareness, enjoying a wealth of experiences inside and out of the classroom as part of an outstanding education.
The Early Years Foundation Stage includes Nursery for children aged 3–4 and Reception for children aged 4–5 and offers:
•specialist teaching in French, Ballet, Music, Computing, Sport and Forest School
•lessons on how to read music and play the piano in Reception.
Children are expertly guided by qualified teachers from Nursery upwards with Specialist EYFS learning assistants.
As children progress through the School beyond EYFS, they also receive specialist teaching in Art, Dance, Drama and Science in addition to the subjects taught by specialists from age three.
Across the Prep School there are 24 nationalities represented, reflecting Oxford’s multicultural and diverse setting, and 29 languages spoken. There are currently 12 sports on offer along with more than 80 clubs and activities to choose from, while theatre productions are held for pupils all the way from nursery up to Year 6. Each week, over 120 individual music lessons take place and pupils sit ABRSM and Trinity Music exams, along with Trinity Guildhall Speech and Drama exams. Many pupils excel in the arts and the sporting arena and are awarded scholarships to senior school. After-school clubs and activities range from Fencing to Lego club, Coding to Trampolining and after-care runs every day incorporating a range of activities, tea and prep.
Unrivalled facilities include a dedicated Science Lab, Theatre, Music School, ICT suites, Art Room, Sports Hall, all-weather pitch, Tennis Courts, Food and Nutrition kitchen, Swimming Pool, outdoor play areas and substantial woodlands for Forest School.
For pupils entering Nursery and Reception (EYFS), entry is by informal assessment at a taster session. Children are assessed in small groups, with experienced staff supporting them as they play. For Reception age pupils, emergent literacy and numeracy tasks are included in their activities. For those entering Year 1 and Year 2 (Key Stage 1), entry is by informal assessment within the class setting. Literacy, numeracy and problem-solving tasks are included within their activities.
For those entering into Years 3 to 6, entry is by assessment in Mathematics, English and Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR). Pupils will also have a short interview and then spend the afternoon with their peer group at the Prep School.
The majority of girls continue to the Senior School, with a number being awarded scholarships every year. (See Headington Rye Oxford entry in GSA section.) Charitable status. Headington Rye Oxford Limited is a Registered Charity, number 309678. It exists to provide quality education for girls.