Comparing 4 schools side by side in USD.
St Edward's School is on Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 7NN, England. The campus sits in a North Oxford residential area and includes the North Wall Arts Centre and extensive playing fields. The school is easily accessible by bus and train, with a Park & Ride service stop just outside the School on South Parade.
There is a Sixth Form within the school, with Lower Sixth pupils. The school operates through the Senior phase up to the Sixth Form.
Independent, co-educational boarding and day school. It offers both boarding and day options for pupils.
England
Church of England
The School is easily accessible by bus and train, with a Park & Ride stop outside the School on South Parade.
The Uniform Exchange is run by The Friends' Committee and Beyond Teddies to keep uniform costs down and encourage recycling of uniform and kit as pupils join and leave the School. Shells starting in September 2023 will need to purchase uniform from the new supplier, as detailed in the Parents' Handbook. Donations of clean, good-quality uniform are welcome at Facilities Reception on South Parade labeled Uniform Exchange; all money raised goes to the Bursary Fund; a straight swap exchange is offered.
Pupils are grouped into a house system with houses including Apsley, Avenue, Cooper Lodge, Corfe, Cowell's, Field House, Jubilee, Kendall, Mac's, Oakthorpe, Segar's, Sing's and Tilly's. House Reps organise house-specific coffees and events to foster community.
St Edward's School is registered in England and Wales as a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered No: 116784; Registered Charity No: 309681; Registered Office: Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 7NN.
Mental wellbeing is supported through the new wellbeing curriculum.
Safeguarding and first aid in the workplace are part of the six-week training for pupils participating in Teddies Collaborates.
1. Pupils are admitted at three entry points: Shell (Year 9) with approximately 140 places, Fourth Form (Year 10) with around 20 places, and Sixth Form (Year 12) with about 60 places. The School aims for pupils to feel at home and to contribute through academics, sport, the arts, community volunteering and involvement in House life and the wider school community. Intake sizes reflect distinct entry points and create opportunities for diverse cohorts. Entry points are aligned with the pupil's age and corresponding year group.
2. Entry to all year groups is via academic entrance examinations. All pupils must be registered to sit the admissions tests. The assessment for all year groups is in two parts. Pupils who meet the test results and reference criteria will be invited to the second stage for interview.
3. The second stage consists of an interview for shortlisted candidates. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview to assess fit with the academic program and co-curricular life. The interview complements the entrance examination in determining suitability for the School's demanding curriculum. The process moves forward based on performance in both the tests and the interview.
4. Sixth Form applicants must have a minimum of six GCSEs or equivalent, including three at Grade 7 or above in the subjects they intend to study at A Level or Higher Level in the IB. For Mathematics or one or more of the Sciences, Grade 8 is required in those subjects. Additional subject requirements may apply depending on study choices.
5. For information about fee support and scholarship opportunities, contact Nicola Jones, Registrar. You can also call +44 01865 319200. Provide any relevant details about your child's circumstances when you inquire.
St Clare's is located in North Oxford, near the city centre of Oxford. The main reception and IB campus are at 139 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7AL, United Kingdom. The school operates with two campuses during the academic year and a third in summer, reflecting its international college and IB offerings.
Levels include a Pre-IB course and a Middle School Programme as part of the IB pathway, culminating in the IB Diploma. The International College offers a University Foundation Programme, English plus Academic Subjects, and an Undergraduate Programme.
Independent, coeducational school in North Oxford.
St Clare's provides learning support for students with learning difficulties or disabilities. A Learning Support Coordinator leads assessment and planning, arranging Educational Psychologist reports and Individual Education Plans (IEPs). The program includes inclusive assessment arrangements for IB and related courses.
St. Clare's has 12 residential houses in North Oxford. Houses are single-sex and accommodation aims to mix cultural backgrounds within each house; a ballot determines the allocation of single, double and triple rooms and which house the student will live in for IB2. Residential IB and PIB students are full-board; each house has a kitchen for light snacks and a laundry, with sheets, pillowcases and towels laundered by the College. The College offers places to students either as boarders or non-residential (day) students under separate offer letters.
Residential IB and PIB students are full-board. Each house has a kitchen for light snacks.
St. Clare's operates a house-based residential system with 12 houses in North Oxford. Houses are single-sex and mixing of IB1 and IB2 students within houses is planned where possible; a ballot determines room allocations and which house a student will live in for IB2. The College reserves the right to move students between rooms and between houses.
St. Clare's, Oxford is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It is registered in England No 01986868 and is a Registered Charity No 294085.
St Clare's offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma and a Preparatory IB course, plus a Middle School Programme. The International College provides a University Foundation Programme, English plus Academic Subjects, and an Undergraduate Programme. English Language provision includes English for Life, English for Examinations, and Online Personal Language Training. Summer Courses are offered for adults and teenagers, and Teacher Training is available through IB Teacher Workshops, CELTA, and DELTA. Boarding and day options are available as part of the college offering.
Outstanding IB examination results. The average points score over the last three years is 35, higher than the world average of 30, and 90% of students scored above this. The school regularly has students achieving the maximum IB score of 45, placing them in the top 1% globally. Every student completes the full IB Diploma and the school reports a 100% pass rate.
University Destinations and Careers guidance provide unlimited one-to-one support and a rigorous careers education programme to help IB students choose courses and locations. The program supports applications to top universities worldwide. Recent destinations include Bocconi University, Durham University, ESADE, ESCP, IE University, Imperial College London, King's College London, LSE, Maastricht University, Minerva University, NUS, NYU, UCL, University of Amsterdam, UC Berkeley, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and many others.
IB World School scholarships are offered, including day and boarding scholarships that may be full or partial and awarded for the full two-year IB Diploma. Anne Dreydel Foundation Scholarships are a designated award for selected IB students. Scholarships are means-tested, and shortlisted applicants attend a Scholarship Assessment Day.
The curriculum includes social and emotional learning as a core component of education. It delivers social and emotional learning through PSHE and RHSE and other curriculum contexts, and students learn about safeguarding so they recognise when they are at risk and how to get help when they need it. The online safety education is part of the curriculum to help students understand the risks of new technologies and how to use them responsibly. Students are encouraged to talk about their feelings and are offered access to a range of appropriate adults for support as needed. The safeguarding framework supports safe, respectful interactions and includes anti-bullying measures. The safeguarding and pastoral teams (IB World School and International College) meet weekly to monitor welfare matters.
Staff are trained to recognise the needs of children with special educational needs (SEND) and to respond with appropriate support. The safeguarding policy notes that some students have SEND and may require early help. Training for staff covers the needs of children with SEND and the importance of timely assessment and intervention. Safeguarding procedures emphasise equality and fairness, ensuring SEND students are considered in safeguarding planning. Safeguarding records, including those related to students with SEND, are maintained in CPOMS or relevant safeguarding systems as part of the college's welfare monitoring.
English language courses are offered through St Clare's International College, including English for Everyday Use, English for Examinations, English Combination Course, and Personal Language Training.
Mental health is addressed within safeguarding. All staff should be aware that mental health problems can be indicators of abuse or risk; only appropriately trained professionals should diagnose mental health issues. Staff should observe students and escalate concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, with emphasis on early help and intervention. The policy recognises the impact of trauma on mental health and wellbeing and the need for a safeguarding-pastoral approach to support students' resilience and self-esteem.
Safeguarding and child protection are central responsibilities. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Elena Hesse, with deputy leads including Emily Woodeson, Kelly Gilbert, and Julia Radlinger. The safeguarding and pastoral teams meet weekly to discuss welfare matters. The governing body monitors safeguarding arrangements, safer recruitment practices, and related governance. Safeguarding records are kept securely, staff receive ongoing safeguarding training, and there are clear procedures for reporting concerns and liaising with external agencies when required. Online safety and anti-bullying measures are in place as part of safeguarding provisions.
St Clare's offers International Baccalaureate Diploma and Preparatory IB (Pre‑IB) programmes. Registration of Interest provides information about the IB courses; you complete the online form and the admissions team will contact you. The form collects the student's first and last name, date of birth, sex, parent/guardian contact details, title, country, home and mobile phone numbers, email, choice of course (IB or Pre‑IB), and proposed date of entry (month and year). Open Day/College tour information is available through the school's IB World School materials. The campus is located at 139 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7AL, UK.
Scholarships and bursaries are available for entry onto the IB Diploma. Scholarships can be full or partial and are means‑tested. Award decisions are based on an assessment of the applicant's school records, confidential references, and performance in an examination and interview held in Oxford; attendance in Oxford for interview and examination is required to be considered for a scholarship. Scholarships are awarded to exceptional students who could not otherwise attend the College and may cover tuition fees and accommodation fees; no more than two full awards are made, with most awards being partial.
The Europa School UK is located on Thame Lane, Culham, Oxfordshire, OX14 3DZ, on a single site. The campus is in Culham near Abingdon, with access by road and public transport. A small train station is about a 15‑minute walk from the school. Transport options include parent‑run bus services (BlocBus and Culham Bus Club) and Free School Transport provided by Oxfordshire County Council.
Bilingual Primary; MYP Secondary; IB Diploma Programme Sixth Form.
The Europa School UK is a UK state-funded Free School and an IB World School.
Learning support includes the normal range of differentiated teaching approaches used by all teachers, plus more specialised individual or group support provided by Learning Support staff. Specific learning difficulties are detected by referral from teachers, parents and pupils themselves. A learning support coordinator is appointed by the school, and learning support can be provided in years S1‑S5 in all subjects, and in exceptional cases in years S6‑S7.
School starts around 08:15–08:25 and ends around 15:10–15:45, depending on year group. KS3–KS5 finish at 12:35 on Wednesdays. The detailed timetable for each year group is published in the school's day timetable.
There are two parent-run bus organisations: BlocBus and Culham Bus Club, each offering different routes; in addition, the school notes how to arrange transport for afternoons and coordinates with families for bus spaces. Free School Transport is provided by the county council where eligible. There is a small train station about 15 minutes' walk from the school, and a Local Bus (Bus 45) serves the area.
There is no uniform. Pupils should dress sensibly for the weather and activities and look smart for learning. Outdoor clothing should be removed in class; safety guidelines discourage wearing large hoops or dangly earrings.
The school dinners are provided by Accent Catering and cooked freshly on site. The school has a no-nut policy and can accommodate allergies and dietary requirements; packed lunches are allowed (nut-free). KS1 pupils receive free school meals.
The Europa School UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee in England & Wales (Registration Number 7649335). It is a state-funded free school.
Europa School UK provides a multilingual, immersion-based education from primary through sixth form, with the International Baccalaureate as the end-qualification. In Primary, all pupils are taught through two languages, with half the week in English and the other half in the stream language (French, German, or Spanish). Stream languages are taught by bilingual staff and immersion is used, with all communication in the language of the day. In Secondary, History and Geography are studied in a second language. The school is a Free School and is OFSTED inspected. The Sixth Form offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, free of charge to all students.
In 2025, 97% of IB Diploma Programme candidates passed, with an average score of 34. 54% of higher level grades were 6 or 7, and 35% of the cohort achieved the Bilingual Diploma. Destinations include the University of Bath, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Exeter, King's College London, the University of Manchester, University College London, and the University of York, with additional European destinations such as ESMA Montpellier and Université Caen Normandie.
Graduates progress to competitive universities in the UK or Europe. Destinations include Bath, Edinburgh, Exeter, KCL, Manchester, UCL, York and European institutions such as ESMA Montpellier and Université Caen Normandie. Some students pursue degree apprenticeships.
Pastoral care and purposeful learning develop pupils into happy, engaged and independent individuals. Global Perspective and Motivation are core values that foster understanding of others, openness to languages, and personal growth.
Special Needs Coordinators provide SEN support; Gill Hudson is the Special Needs Co-ordinator.
All Primary pupils learn through two languages, with half the week in English and the other half in a stream language (French, German, or Spanish). In class an immersion method is used, with communication predominantly in the language of the day.
Wellbeing support includes access to a School Health Nurse and a pastoral counsellor; safeguarding policies promote positive mental health and wellbeing.
Safeguarding is prioritised; a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Leads are in place (Georgie Neville; Lynn Wood and Karen Marais). Contact safeguardingleads@europaschool.uk. A Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy exists.
The school has two admission points: rising 5 in Reception and age 16 in Year 12. In Reception there are 90 places across three language streams: 30 English/French, 30 English/German, 30 English/Spanish. Language preference is collected but does not determine who receives an offer. When applications exceed the published number, offers are made in rank order until a class is full; if a tie occurs, a distance-based tiebreaker using three nodal points is applied. Nodal Point weights are Node 1 50%, Node 2 35%, Node 3 15%. Oversubscription criteria include looked-after or previously looked-after children, siblings who will still be on roll, children of staff, and up to 10% of places in Years 7–11 allocated for aptitude in modern foreign languages (assessed by an independent process). The distance-based tiebreaker measures straight-line distance to one of the three nodal points. There is a right of appeal for unsuccessful applicants. Post-statutory admissions to 16–19 require minimum academic qualifications (at least five GCSE grades 5–9 including Maths and English, with grade 7 for Higher Level courses); entrants may come from Year 11 or from another country and must have sufficient language and English proficiency (CEFR B2) to study in the school's streams; short tests may be applied for entrants from outside the school. Offers follow the usual admission order; if a place is declined, other eligible applicants are considered.
There is no waiting list for the other language class once you accept a place.
Oxford, England; in the historic university city of Oxford. The campus sits in the academic heart of the UK.
Two-year high school programs for students aged 16–18, with options to pursue the IB Diploma Programme or the A-Level Programme.
Private boarding high school.
Pupils come from 30+ nationalities; the campus hosts a global community.
English language support is available, including the EF Academy Preparation Program for students entering in grades 9 or 10 to accelerate English to the level required for the diploma program.
International; not affiliated with a single country.
Boarding is full residential life on campus with daily mentorship and 24/7 support from tutors, pathway managers, house parents, and the wellness team. Students live on campus alongside peers from around the world, which builds independence and a global perspective.
No formal dress code. You can wear whatever expresses your personality; dress in a way that doesn't cause discomfort to others.
Evening meals are provided as part of boarding life. After the evening meal, dorm life continues with Study Hall and opportunities for social activities in the dorm.
Pupils are allocated to Magdalen, Folly, or Osney houses upon enrollment. The houses have colors and emblems, and students participate in inter-house games and activities.
The school offers two diploma pathways: the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB Diploma) and the A-Level Program. Oxford advisors help craft a personalised graduation path by selecting classes from a wide range of subjects. In the IB Diploma, students take six courses per year with three mandatory Core components: Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), the Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge. In the A-Level Program, students typically study three to four subjects over two years, with an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) option. English is studied in preparation for IELTS, and Pathways Support covers study skills, Growth Mindset, Personal and Social Health Education, and University Preparation.
Average class size: 13
EF Academy Oxford graduates have a 99% university admission rate, and 92% are admitted to their first or second-choice universities. In 2024, 192 students graduated, many completing AP courses, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, or the A-Level programme. A-Level achiever percentages: 54% A-A (EF Academy) vs 28% worldwide. IB Diploma pass rate: 82% (EF Academy) vs 80% worldwide. IB Diploma average total points: 31.5 (EF Academy) vs 30.32 worldwide. Worldwide offers include University of Oxford, University College London, Cambridge, and other top universities.
Graduates gain admission to leading universities worldwide, including the University of Oxford, University College London, Cambridge, and other top UK, US, and global institutions; 99% university admission and 92% first- or second-choice offers are reported.
EF Academy Oxford is an international boarding school in Oxford, England. The campus sits in a historic university city. Students come from 30+ countries. The two-year programs are the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the A-level Programme; one-semester or one-year enrollments are not offered. All courses are taught in English. EF Academy Oxford offers merit-based scholarships for students who demonstrate strong academic ability, creativity, leadership, or community engagement. Boarding is full on-campus with daily mentorship and 24/7 support from tutors, pathway managers, house parents, and the wellness team. Class sizes are small and learning extends beyond textbooks. Customized counseling provides one-on-one university advising from early on to help students select courses and target universities. The pathway system pairs classes with clubs, enrichment activities and practical experiences to meet students' passions and future goals. The faculty are experts in international education with global classroom experience. The Advisory Council includes Dr. Fernando Reimers, Dr. Mukul Kumar and Dr. Laurie Santos. Campus visits are possible via a scheduled tour. Accreditations and memberships are listed on the page. Scholarships and financial support are available on a merit basis. The school emphasizes a global, immersive learning environment with a diverse student body.
EF Academy Oxford offers merit-based scholarships for students who demonstrate strong academic ability, creativity, leadership, or community engagement.
