Founded in 1957, Cokethorpe School provides a liberal education to roughly 630 boys and girls aged four to eighteen in a dynamic and vigorous day school environment. Set in 150 acres of parkland, the School sits two miles from Witney and just ten from Oxford.
Aims. The School creates a community of rounded, considerate and confident young people with high personal expectations. The pupils are provided with an exceptional breadth of opportunities to further their learning and expand horizons, whilst the individual focus afforded to pupils ensures that they are supported in making the right choices for their development.
These qualities are formulated in the School’s leadership traits: integrity, courage, empathy, judgement, ambition, and responsibility. These are characteristics the School instils in every pupil. In the Prep School, these take the form of the Cokethorpe Characters, with attributions reflecting attitudes to learning.
Curriculum. Whilst the National Curriculum is broadly followed throughout the Prep School and on to GCSE, there is plenty of space afforded to push beyond, providing plentiful scope for intellectual challenge and curiosity to flourish. An exceptional breadth of subjects is offered at age groups across the Prep and Senior Schools.
At GCSE, all pupils study core subjects of English, Maths and Science and have a wide choice of subject options in addition. Sixth Formers typically choose to either study three subjects at A Level and complete the EPQ or select four A Level subjects. A further group opt to follow the Extended Diploma in Business programme. The small size of teaching groups is particularly conducive to rigorous individual attention and encouragement. Students can select from 24 subjects for Sixth Form, including, to name but a few: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Latin, Further Mathematics, Psychology and Sociology.
Admissions. The main entry points are: Reception (4+), Year 3 (7+), First Form (11+), Third Form (13+) and Sixth Form (16+). Places in other year groups are considered if a place becomes available during the academic year. For the specific requirements of each entry point, please refer to the School’s website.
Bursaries and scholarships. Financial assistance is available to parents of pupils who meet the required standards but require a bursary award to take up a place. All awards are means tested and the number and value of awards will vary according to the family circumstances and availability of funds. Bursary funding is prioritised for pupils in the senior school and applications are required in the Michaelmas term prior to entry. Scholarships are assessed separately and awarded annually and worth between £200 and £300 each. A pupil may hold multiple scholarships. Holders of all awards are expected to contribute fully to the life of the school and work to their academic capacity as they progress through the school.
Setting. The elegant Queen Anne Mansion House is both home to the Prep School and entrance to myriad facilities beyond. A range of modern buildings host the Senior School’s academic endeavours around a series of quads, and beyond, a 200-seat black-box theatre is the perfect setting for the Performing Arts and visiting speakers. The core sports are complimented by the Outdoor Education programme, which includes clay pigeon shooting, climbing, sailing, and a popular and hugely successful kayaking programme. The extensive extra-curricular programme (known as ‘AOBs’) plays a prominent part in a pupil’s timetable and includes over 160 weekly activities to select and savour.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Prep School: Reception–Year 2 £5,075, Years 3–4 £5,445, Years 5–6 £5,675.
Senior School: £7,735.
Fees include lunch. Extras are kept to a minimum.
Charitable Status. Cokethorpe Educational Trust Limited is a Registered Charity, number 309650.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
Chairman: Mr J Bennett, BSc
Dr C Easmon, MBBS, MRCP, MSc Public Health, DTM&H, DOccMed
The Right Revd C Fletcher
Mrs W E Hart, CFQ, MA, ICAEW
Dr W W Lau, PhD, MSc, BSc
Mrs J Norris, BA Hons, Dip TP, MSc, MRTPI
Mr P Tolley, BSc, FRICS
Mr K Walton, Cert Ed
Mr M Wannell, FCCA
Governor Emeritus: Mr M St John Parker, MA
Headmaster: Mr D J Ettinger, BA, MA, PGCE, FRSA
Deputy Headmaster: Mr J C Stevens, BEng, FRSA
Bursar: Mrs H J Stapleton, FCCA
Head of Prep School: Mrs N A Black, BA
Director of Studies: Mr A E Uglow, BA, PGCE
Director of Co-Curricular: Mr G J Sheer, BA, PGCE
Head of Sixth Form: Mr E J Tolputt, BA, MA, MEng
Director of Development: Ms N A Wynne, BA, MA
Head of Staff Development: Mrs S A Orton, BA, PGCE, SpLD Cert
Deputy Head of Sixth Form: Mrs M H D Cooper, BA, PGCE
Deputy Head of Sixth Form: Mr A P Gale, BSc, PGCE
Housemasters and Housemistresses:
Feilden: Mr J E Hughes, BA, BMus
Gascoigne: Mrs E Semenzato, DLit, PGCE
Harcourt: Miss A M Woodcock, BSc
Queen Anne: Mrs L Bowden, BSc, QTS GTP
Swift: M Joiner, BSc, MA, PGCE
Vanbrugh: Ms L A Mountain, MA, PGCE
Lower House: M J P O’Connor, BEd
Heads of Departments:
Art: Ms E F Williams, BA, PGCE
Business Studies and Economics: Mrs N Silversides, BEd, CELTA
Classics: Mr S Oliver, BA, MLitt, PGCE
Design Technology: Mrs H V Brown, BA, PGCE
Drama: Mrs C L Hooper, Dip Act, DCL
English: Mr S P Howells, BA, NPQLT
Geography: Mr J E Bown, BSc, PGCE
History: Mr C M Tyer, BA, MSt, PGCE
Learning Development: Mrs S J Arbuckle, BA, PGCE, NASENCO
Mathematics: Mr A G M Ladell-Stuart, MMath, PGCE
Modern Foreign Languages: Miss M Boubkari, BA, PGCE
Music: Dr E J Winkley, BA, PHD, QTS
Philosophy, Religion and Civics: Mr A D Waldron, BA
Physical Education: Mr J P Gallagher, BSc, MA, PGDipEd
Psychology and Sociology: Mrs K J Rogers, BSc, PGCE
Science: Mr O L Richards, BA, MA