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, while 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. While 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. Bursaries are means-tested awards offering financial assistance related to the income and financial position of the pupil’s family and, where relevant, how it arose. Awards are made at the discretion of the Headmaster in consultation with the Bursar and in accordance with the policy agreed by the Board of Governors. A pupil who is the subject of an award is required to work hard, to contribute positively to the life of the School, to be a credit to the School and to set a good example to other pupils. Concessions for families with three or more children at Cokethorpe are offered as sibling discounts of up to 15%.
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 complemented by the Outdoor Education programme, which includes clay pigeon shooting, climbing, sailing, and a popular and hugely successful kayaking programme. The extensive extracurricular 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 (2024-2025). Prep School: Reception–Year 2 £5,150, Years 3–4 £5,525, Years 5–6 £5,760.
Senior School: First and Second Form £7,850, Third Form to Upper Sixth £8,000.
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
Mrs N Cammack
Dr C Easmon, MBBS, MRCP, MSc Public Health, DTM&H, DOccMed
The Right Revd C Fletcher
Mrs W E Hart, CFQ, MA, ICAEW
Dr N M Hunt
Dr W W Lau, PhD, MSc, BSc
Mrs J Norris, BA Hons, Dip TP, MSc, MRTPI
Mr A Nott BA, PGCE
Mr P Tolley, BSc, FRICS
Mr K Walton, Cert Ed
Mr M Wannell, BA Hons, 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 Professional 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: Mr O L Richards, BA, MA
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: Mrs A C Prior, BA
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: Mr B L Watson, BA, PGCE
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
Biology: Mrs E Smith BSc, PGSE
Chemistry: Dr E L Regardsoe BSc, D.Phil, PGCE, MRSC
Physics: Mrs C S Perkin BSc, PGCE