Schools/United Kingdom/Abingdon/Abingdon School
United Kingdom — Oxfordshire

Abingdon School

Park Road — South of Oxford
"''Misericordias domini in aeternum cantabo''<br />("I will sing of the Lord's mercy forever")"
A-LevelScholarships
Abingdon School logo
Verified School
Annual FeesFrom $ 35,147
University Rate89%of graduates
Ages4 – 19

Abingdon School is a A-Level school in Abingdon, United Kingdom. Founded in 1870. It serves 1,266 students for students aged 4–19. Annual tuition from $35,147 USD.

Explore This School

Open Day
Events are offered throughout the year and can be booked online or by contacting the admissions office.
Meet staff, tour campus, and speak with current families
View Open Days

Location & getting here

Setting
Suburban
Nearest station
Radley3.6 km away
Nearest town
Oxford9.1 km

Historic market town near Oxford with university-city character; prosperous commuter setting with good London rail access—typical choice for international families relocating to the UK.

Nearest airports

Framed for international families — drive times are from the school, not the city centre.

AirportDistanceDrive from schoolInternational note
Heathrow62 km~91 minLHR — gateway for Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai
Luton67 km~97 minLTN — European and budget carriers
Birmingham92 km~130 minBHX — Midlands gateway

NanaSays Scorecard

Est. 1870
Year Founded
1,266
Students Enrolled
89%
University Placement
Boarding Available
Scholarships Available
Bursaries Available
CCF Programme

Key Details

Curricula Offered
A-LevelYes
Accreditations
BSAISC
Languages of Instruction
English

Scholarships Available

Merit-based Scholarships

Means-Tested Bursaries

Means-tested bursaries are available. Contact the school admissions office for details.

Academic Performance

89%
University Placement Rate
Standards Met
ISI
Pastoral: There is a caring atmosphere throughout the school. (ISI Inspection)

ISI Inspection Report

The school achieved an overall rating of Excellent for both pupils' academic achievements and personal development. The school meets all regulatory compliance standards with no further action required. The school's extensive range of activities and excellent examination results enable pupils to develop their skills and talents extremely well.

Academic Quality
Excellent
Pastoral Care
Excellent
ISI Standards
Met
Key Strengths
Pupils achieve excellent examination results at GCSE, A-level and in pre-U subjects
The enormous range of activities promoted through the school's Other Half programme enables pupils to develop their skills and talents extremely well
Pupils develop highly positive attitudes to learning and independent study
Pupils demonstrate excellent self-confidence, self-knowledge and self-understanding
Pupils become highly effective decision-makers, acutely aware of the consequences of their choices
Pupils are excellent communicators with highly developed speaking, listening, reading and writing skills
Comprehensive PSHCE and relationships and sex education programme
Effective system of rewards and a strong house system which is the focus for pastoral care
Areas for Development
To ensure that all pupils demonstrate respect for others' cultural and personal characteristics
Strengthen the pupil led equality and diversity group to support promotion of respect for others' cultural and personal characteristics
View Full ISI Report (2023-05-10)

Key facts

Founded
1870
Ages
4–19 (Boys)
Pupils on roll
1,266
Fees
$ 28,500$ 58,125 / year
Inspectorate
ISI

Fees & the true cost of attendance

Published fees · inclusive of VAT

PhasePer termPer year
Day (Years 7-13)£9,500£28,500
Weekly Boarding£15,810£47,430
Full Boarding£19,375£58,125

Compulsory extras (on top of tuition)

ItemFrequencyAmount
Pupils Absence Insurance SchemePer term
AXA PPP Healthcare private medical insurancePer year£474
Visa Compliance Fee for international studentsPer year£300

Budget beyond the sticker price. Assume the real annual spend is 5–15% higher than the headline fee. Hidden costs typically include: registration fee, acceptance deposit (usually one term's fees, refundable at the end of schooling), uniform + sports kit, trips and expeditions, individual music tuition, exam entry fees, travel to/from home.

Ask the Bursar for a sample "all-in" first-year invoice before committing.

Scholarships & financial assistance
💰
Means-tested bursaries — the school looks at your family income and can offer a much larger discount than any scholarship. Free and subsidised places available to local day pupils, worth up to 100% of day fees; approximately 74 students (7% of school roll) currently receive financial assistance. Ask the Bursar directly — these are rarely advertised prominently.

About

Abingdon School promotes confidence and individuality in a nurturing yet demanding community. The school offers a comprehensive educational environment with strong emphasis on sport (national representation in rugby, hockey, rowing, and fencing), music with ABRSM professional diplomas, and ambitious drama productions. Set in stunning grounds just south of Oxford, the school excels academically with the vast majority of leavers securing places at Russell Group universities and Oxbridge.

School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.

What Makes This School Different

Personal Development Education (PDE) pro
House system with integrated tutorial st
Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in
Peer Support Leads programme with Sixth
Youth Mental Health First Aid training f
Clubs & Activities
History Society with annual quiz competitionAbingdon Litsoc (Literary Society)Chemistry Projects ClubChemistry Practical MasterclassesMaths Feast team competitionThe Cartwright Group (Maths enrichment)RSC Chemistry ChallengeRSC Top of the Bench CompetitionOX14 Chemistry competitionUKMT Maths Challenges+17 more
Expeditions include: Caerleon Ancient History Trip (Third Year students), French trip to Lyon (Fourth Year), Bielefeld orchestral and exchange tour (annual, established 1967), Battlefields Trip (recent History trips), DofE Gold Canoeing Expedition and 10 more.

Academic Results

A-Level A*
27.5%
63.3% A*/A
Oxbridge 2025
16
10 Oxford · 6 Cambridge
University Destinations 2025
Durham23Bristol16Edinburgh11Bath10University College London10Oxford10University of Chicago1University of California, Berkeley1

Admissions

Entry pointAssessmentAssessment dateRegistration deadline
Year 7 (11+)Entrance examinationsJanuarySeptember-November 2025
Year 9 (13+)Entrance examinationsOctoberAugust-September 2025
Sixth FormEntrance examinationsNovemberAugust-September 2025

How to apply

  1. Register as prospective pupil
  2. Sit entrance examinations
  3. Receive offer decision
  4. Pay acceptance fee (amount varies by stage and year of entry)

What you'll need to submit

  • Online registration form
  • Supporting documents for bursary applications where applicable

Admissions contact: [email protected], telephone 01235 521563

Entrance exams required. Bursary applications have separate pre-screening call and completed application deadlines. Internal transfer from Abingdon Preparatory School possible.

Why Families Choose

National sporting representation, particularly in rugby, hockey, rowing and fencing; strong music and drama programmes; impressive academic results with high Oxbridge and Russell Group placement; close pastoral care system; single-sex education with ties to nearby girls' schools

University Destinations

89% of Abingdon School graduates go on to higher education. Recent graduates have been accepted at universities including:

Oxford
Cambridge
Russell Group Universities

Fees & Financials

From $35,147

Student Life

House System

All students belong to houses with the same housemaster throughout their time at school

Houses
10

Facilities & Programmes

Sports
8-lane 25m indoor swimming pool
boathouse
Arts
Music
Drama
Film
Academic
Science Labs
Sixth Form Centre
Library
Art Department
Co-Curricular
Rugby
Hockey
Rowing
Fencing
Music
Drama
Film Unit
The Other Half programme

Student Demographics

School Type
boys
Age Range
419
Student Body
Boarding capacity138

School Background

Governance & Ownership

Independent

Awards & Recognition

National awards for Abingdon Film Unit material

Sports Programme

Large multi-sport programme across 25+ sports with three-tiered participation model (Participation, Performance, Elite); extensive facilities across four main sites including elite rowing programme with Olympic medalist alumnus; strong competitive programme particularly in rugby, football, cricket, hockey, rowing and tennis.

Signature Sports
Rugby UnionFootballCricketHockeyRowing
Teams by Sport
Badminton
4
teams
Basketball
2
teams
Chess
2
teams
Clay Pigeon Shooting
1
teams
Climbing
1
teams
Cricket
16
teams
Croquet
1
teams
Cross Country
3
teams
Fencing
3
teams
Football
24
teams
Golf
2
teams
Hockey
20
teams
Hockey Sevens
4
teams
Rugby Sevens
6
teams
Rugby Tens
1
teams
Rugby Union
24
teams
Squash
3
teams
Swimming
12
teams
Tennis
14
teams
Touch
1
teams
Volleyball
1
teams
Warhammer
1
teams
Water Polo
8
teams
Also Offered
AthleticsRowing
Recent Highlights
InternationalTom Digby OA - Olympic Gold Medallist, Paris 2024 (Rowing)2024
Facilities
Tilsley Park: 3G hockey/football pitch, 2 full-size ATP hockey pitches, running trackSenior School Sports Centre: badminton, volleyball, basketball, indoor hockey, 4 cricket lanesHigh Performance CentreAthletic Development Gym2 squash courtsClimbing wallMulti-purpose studioErgo suite8-lane indoor swimming poolBoat House on Wilsham Road with ergo suite and variety of boats
Director of Sport: Mark Hanslip

Frequently Asked Questions

The annual fees at Abingdon School are From $35,147 per academic year.