36 Tatler Schools Guide 2020 tatler.comSOUTH EASTPUBLICconsider itself super academic per
se, but the results beg to differ: 73
per cent A*–A at GCSE and 80
per cent A*-B at A-level last year,
with 60 per cent of leavers heading
to Russell Group universities and
10 per cent to Oxbridge. Set in the
Cathedral close, this is a magical
school, with higgledy-piggledy class-
rooms, towers with spectacular
views and even a bowler-hatted
‘Beadle’ to ensure pupils get to
their lessons on time and that they
are adhering to the ‘Canterbury
Dress’ uniform. There are day pu-
pils and full boarders – there’s no
in between and the full boarding is
certainly just that with a dizzying
array of extracurriculars, from tra-
ditional sporting, dramatic and
musical opportunities to the more
obscure Cipher Challenge and
Russian culture club. The real star
of the show is King’s Week, the an-
nual summer arts festival which
sees pupils putting on plays, con-
certs and interactive art shows.MAGDALEN COLLEGE
SCHOOL
Cowley Place, Oxford
OX14 1DZ
Website mcsoxford.org
Head Helen Pike, MA, since 2016;
previously Head of South Hampstead
High School, London Pupils 767
day: 671 boys, 96 girls Ages 10–18
Term Fees £6,313 Oxbridge 30%
Registration By end of October in
year before entry; £100 fee Admission
School’s own exam Alumni Cardinal
Wolsey, Sir Thomas More, Sam Mendes
PREP Head Tim Skipwith
Pupils 134 day boys Ages 7–10
Term Fees £6,313
‘Most parents choose us because we
are the gold standard academically
in the region, and we rank among
the very best schools in the country.
They do so confident in the knowl-
edge that we achieve so highly not
in spite of the range and depth of
our extracurricular offer, but be-
cause of it,’ says Helen Pike, the first
female Master in Magdalen’s 535-
year history, when asked to describe
her school. She’s spot on: with
views of Magdalen College and
Christ Church Meadow (their twolandlords) this school has
academia in its bricks and mortar.
The Waynflete Studies Project, an
extended thesis for Lower VI, is
popular as it gives students access
to external supervisors often asso-
ciated with the university; a taste
of both independent research and
the tutorial system at Oxford and
Cambridge (this is especially useful
for the 30 per cent who secure
places). Drama is top-notch, and
Reflections, a piece of musical theatre
researched, scripted and composed
by a team of sixth form historians
and writers in collaboration with
the Director of Drama, received
impressive reviews from The Oxford
Daily Info. ‘The large-scale Oxford
University productions are hardly
turning out anything superior to
this,’ wrote the reviewer. Pike’s
only concern is the misconception
that Magdalen pupils are not
sporty. ‘Our cricket side is one of
the best in the country,’ she says.
‘And we’re national tennis champi-
ons for the second year running.’NEW HALL
SCHOOL
The Avenue, Boreham,
Chelmsford CM3 3HS
Website newhallschool.co.uk
Head Katherine Jeffrey, MA, since
2001; previously Deputy Head of
the Marist School, Ascot Pupils 844.
Day: 312 boys, 313 girls; boarding:
114 boys, 105 girls Faith RC Ages
11–18 Term Fees Day: £6,873;
boarding: £10,605 Oxbridge 3%
Registration By October of year
before entry; £100 fee Admission
School’s own exam, interview and
previous school’s report Alumnae
Amber Rudd, Anya Hindmarch,
Christiane Amanpour
PREP Head Alastair Moulton
Pupils 362 day and boarding: 189
boys, 173 girls Ages 1–11 Te r m
Fees Day: £4,635; boarding: £6,588On a recent visit to this school,
historian David Starkey apparent-
ly commented that New Hall has
more historical significance than
Hampton Court. Once home to
Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, and
Oliver Cromwell, New Hall is
today underpinned by a strong
Catholic ethos with kindness, trust
and respect at the heart of the
school. However, faith is central
but not crucial, and the school
welcomes students from all reli-
gious backgrounds. In the words
of one very happy parent: ‘New
Hall’s Catholic ethos means that
it’s genuinely and passionately fo-
cused on all-round development.
It’s not just a narrow focus on aca-
demic or sporting excellence.
Teachers work hard to help each
child reach their full potential.
Two of my children are dyslexic,
and New Hall’s special needs sup-
port has been very beneficial.’
Head Katherine Jeffrey, a ‘dynam-
ic, hands-on, visionary’ according
to one parent, is known for en-
couraging her staff to get to know
every child, and to embrace differ-
ent learning styles. Last year’s
A-level results were record-setting,
with an impressive 50 A-level
modules scoring a perfect 100 per
cent. Teachers strive to develop
kids outside the classroom too:
pastoral care really shines through.
Another key USP of the school
is its award-winning diamond-
shaped education system: there are
co-educational classes up to age 11
and again in sixth form. Outside
the classroom, sport is equally fan-
tastic, with multiple England play-
ers, numerous cups and awards
every year. If students ever get a
spare minute, they can wander the
vast grounds in the excellent com-
pany of the school’s farm animals
including pigs, Ryeland rams and
a family of rescued pygmy goats.OXFORD HIGH
SCHOOL
Belbroughton Road, Oxford
OX2 6XA
Website oxfordhigh.gdst.net
Head Dr Philip Hills, PhD, since
2017; previously Deputy Head of
Hampton School Pupils 600 day
girls Ages 11–18 Term Fees £5,363
Oxbridge 25% Registration By
September of year before entry;
£100 fee Admission School’s own
exam and interview Alumnae
Cressida Dick CBE QPM,
Pippa Harris
PREP Head Jessica Williams
Pupils 250 day girls Ages 4–11
Term Fees £4,064
First impressions of Oxford High
School belie the dynamism within.
Established 143 years ago, it is
without doubt one of the foremost
day schools for cerebral, high
achieving girls. A staggering one in
four girls go on to Oxford, Cam-
bridge and Ivy League universities
in the US. A recent visitor was
delighted by how unshowy, down
to earth and amazingly friendly
the school is – but you could easily
forgive these brilliant girls for the
odd boast. Once again, the code-
cracking team made the finals of
the GCHQ’s CyberFirst competi-
tion. Football is another strength
with the school enjoying close
links with Oxford United women’s
team and one sixth former recently
won a cap in an England Interna-
tional. There’s also been a recent
flurry of changes: the major new
Arts and Sixth Form Centre is due
for completion in January 2020
and will house new art and design
facilities, a robotics lab and a new
auditorium. The building will also
house a Wellness Suite combining
the Health Centre, counsellors, a
contemplation room and a quiet
space. The prep school has a new
Head, Jessica Williams, and par-
ents have reported that it already
feels as though this ‘born leader’
has always been there. Sadly there’s
no automatic entry from the Prep
to the Senior school – the 85 per
cent of girls who choose to contin-
ue at OHS have to sit the same test
as external candidates. ]Once home to Henry VIII and OliverCromwell, New Hall is todayunderpinned by a strong Catholic ethos10-19-Schools-Guide-PublicSouthEast.indd 36 14/08/2019 22:15