Abingdon School

Facilities

We are fortunate to have extensive facilities at Abingdon.  These include a 446 seat theatre; a science centre housing 21 teaching laboratories, study areas, project rooms and preparatory rooms; a dedicated sixth form centre; library; arts centre; Sports Centre and swimming pool; Humanities centre; and dedicated Product Design and Engineering workshop.  In addition to our main 35 acre site, we have further facilities at Tilsley Park multi purpose sports grounds; our boat club; and Cox’s fields which is situated at our Prep School.

In 2023, Abingdon completed the most significant renovation of its boarding accommodation in its history.  The aim was to significantly enhance the boarding experience for boarders so they felt comfortably ‘at home’ at school, whilst having purpose-built facilities which would support their academic work, hone their extracurricular pursuits and put them at the heart of the school’s extended community.  In fruition, the ‘university’ style accommodation has communal House rooms with kitchen facilities; break-out areas with large sofas and bean bags; games including table tennis, table football and pool – all deliberately arranged to support friendships between Abingdon’s boarding and day communities, facilitate down-time and social events.  There are dedicated ‘quiet’ study areas so that boarders have somewhere (other than bedrooms) to concentrate on their academic work as well as music practice rooms.  Boarders additionally have use of their own kitchenettes and contemporary shower rooms.  All bedrooms are larger and have washbasins.  Each has a capacity of between 2 and 3 students (with single rooms for sixth formers).  

Scholarships

There are a number of Scholarships and Awards available to those who meet the academic entry criteria.

At 13+, academic and music scholarships are offered, with assessments taking place in the spring of Year 8. Students must first have a confirmed offer of a place at the school. Art, product design & engineering, drama and sport scholarships are also offered, but not until after joining Abingdon School, at the end of the Third Year.

At 16+, academic, music, sport, art, product design & engineering and drama scholarships are offered.

Free and subsidised places may be available through means-tested bursaries.

We have an extensive partnership programme both through our Abingdon School in Partnership and as one of the founding members of the OX14 Learning Partnership.

Entrance Requirements

11+:  School’s own exam, reference from current school and interview.

13+:  From prep schools (other than Abingdon Prep) – School’s own exam, reference from current school and interview (in Year 7). Offers are given to boys in Year 7 for places for the Third Year (Year 9). Offers are subject to pupils maintaining the level of academic progress and cocurricular profile, in Years 7 and 8 at their prep or current schools, that is deemed appropriate for Abingdon School. Offers are not conditional on passing Common Entrance or other similar exams.

Transfer Process from Abingdon Prep School – Pupils, for whom Abingdon School is an appropriate next step, receive an offer of a place for Year 9 at Abingdon School at the end of Year 5. The offer is based on the continuous assessment of each Abingdon Prep pupil during the years up to and including Year 5. There is no separate entrance examination – which is a requirement for children from other prep schools. The offer is subject to a pupil maintaining their profile of achievement in Years 6 to 8 at Abingdon Prep.

Sixth Form: School’s own exam, reference from current school and interview. Grade 7 required at GCSE for the subjects chosen to study (grade 8 if Further Maths is an A level choice). An average of 6 is needed across all GCSE grades.

Fees

2024/2025

Day fee:  £8,140 per term (£24,420 per annum)*

Weekly boarding fee:  £13,550 per term (£40,650 per annum)*

Full boarding fee:  £16,600 per term (£49,800 per annum)*

*excluding any applicable VAT

Affiliations/Memberships

BSA, HMC, ISI, IAPS

Downloadable Resources

• Latest Inspection Report