2626 Tatler Schools Guide 2020 tatler.comABINGDON SCHOOL
Park Road, Abingdon,
Oxfordshire OX14 1DE
Website abingdon.org.uk
Head Michael Windsor, MA, since
2016; previously Head of Reading
Blue Coat Pupils 1,015 boys: 877
day, 138 boarding Ages 11–18
Term Fees Day: £6,885; boarding:
£13,715 Oxbridge 13%
Registration In advance
of the entrance test days; £150 fee
Admission School’s own exam
Alumni Tom Hollander,
David Mitchell, Sir Kim Darroch
PREP Head Craig Williams
Pupils 250 day boys Ages 4–13
Term Fees £5,735
Maybe it was the delicious bento
box they were treated to or the
atmosphere of fun, laughter and
discovery that pervaded the school,
but a recent visitor was completelysmitten with Abingdon: ‘It’s an
exciting time to study here. A
string of recent investments has
sent the school’s facilities into the
stratosphere and Head Michael
Windsor is making an impressive
impact.’ Before everyone rushes to
sign up their sons, it’s important to
bear in mind that this is a highly
selective school with seriously
strong academic standards: half
the year group achieves a clean
sweep of A* and As at GCSE, and,
at A-level, this increases to 63.4
per cent. The facilities are world-
class. For sport, there’s a boathouse
on the river, a 25-metre indoorpool and 60-plus acres of pitches
including all-weather surfaces. The
Yang Science Centre houses 21
labs with associated break-out
areas and a 10-metre sculpture that
depicts themes from each of the
sciences, while the newly opened
Beech sixth form centre is home to
an impressive library and art
facilities. Returning to the words
of the very impressed visitor,
Abingdon is a school that offers
‘astonishing facilities, academics,
sport and extracurricular activities
delivered with serious commit-
ment to the boys’ wellbeing. All in
all, excellent bang for its buck.’ARDINGLY COLLEGESouth EastPUBLICARDINGLY
COLLEGE
College Road, Haywards Heath,
West Sussex RH17 5RJ
Website ardingly.com
Head Ben Figgis, MEd, since
2014; previously Deputy Head
at Oakham Pupils 606. Day:
175 boys, 125 girls; boarding:
170 boys, 136 girls Ages 13–18
Term Fees Day: £7,995; boarding:
£11,955 Oxbridge 4%
Registration Up to two years
before entry; £150 fee Admission
ISEB pre-test Alumni Ian Hislop,
Jon Snow, Ed Petrie
PREP Head Harry Hastings
Pupils 313 day and boarding:
166 boys, 147 girls Ages 2–13
Term Fees Day: £5,490
Ardingly is not only kind, but
motivational and inspiring with a
huge focus on preparing students
for the world. Head Ben Figgis
introduced the World Ready project- described by an insider as ‘one of
10-19-Schools-Guide-PublicSouthEast.indd 26 14/08/2019 22:15