Bucks &amp; Oxon

<p>Great school when I was there&#8230;.still is it seems ,with very good results all round..It also has one of most picturesque  “school  fields” in the country,&#8230;&#8230;     a complete island surrounded by the Cherwell and a quick row up to the. Isis,,and a marvellous vew of Magdalen College tower</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">WHAT? WHERE?</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-2.jpg" alt="Magdalen College Oxford" class="wp-image-201834" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-2-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>As Oxford as the dreaming spires themselves, this academically outstanding&nbsp;day school for pupils&nbsp;aged 7-18 years&nbsp;has been standing in the city since the 15<sup>th&nbsp;</sup>century.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;a site of modern and more traditional buildings, but its outstanding feature is really its central city location on the River Cherwell, just across Magdalen Bridge, and minutes from the High Street and Carfax. Fittingly, it was recognised in the prestigious&nbsp;<em>Sunday Times</em>&nbsp;Parent Power Schools Guide 2026 as one of the Top 20 Independent Schools nationally and a Top 10 Independent School in the&nbsp;South East, making it the highest-ranked school in Oxfordshire.&nbsp;In 2026, it announced it would be&nbsp;welcoming girls in Year 3 and 4 in 2027, and in Year 7 in 2030, after 15 successful years of&nbsp;co-education in the Sixth Form.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-facilities">FACILITIES</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-6.jpg" alt="Magdalen College rock climbing" class="wp-image-201830" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-6.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-6-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-6-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Immense. Impressive. Immaculate. There is no expense spared here, and just as in academics and extra-curricular competitions, Magdalen College School takes its facilities very seriously. School Field is the centre piece for MCS sport, along with an arms-length range of facilities including Christ Church and Merton Playing Fields, Marston Road astro hockey pitch, the University’s Iffley Road Sports Centre (home to the Sir Roger Bannister Running Track and the Rosenblatt Swimming Pool), Oxford Hawks’ water-based astro hockey pitches, direct access from the school to the river for the Rowing Club, and Farmoor Reservoir for the Sailing Club.</p>



<p>In terms of buildings, a four-storey, 1,650 ft Sixth Form centre opened in February 2018 and&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;a stunner, including social spaces, cafeteria, study rooms, and offices for 300 boys and girls.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/Image-4.jpg" alt="Magdalen College sixth form" class="wp-image-142128" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/Image-4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/Image-4-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/Image-4-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/02/Image-4-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Across at the Junior School, the set-up is more&nbsp;higgledy&nbsp;piggledy&nbsp;(in&nbsp;a good way&nbsp;– the buildings are older!) but it has charming outdoor spaces and looks out over the river and Botanical Gardens.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In&nbsp;December 2025&nbsp;the school secured planning permission for a&nbsp;brand new&nbsp;Science, Library &amp; Partnerships Building&nbsp;–&nbsp;with the aim of providing a sector-leading science building in the centre of Oxford, capable of supporting a&nbsp;forward-looking curriculum and the rapidly advancing areas of robotics, AI and Big Data.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-academics">ACADEMICS</h2>



<p>No-one sends a child to Magdalen College School hoping&nbsp;they’ll&nbsp;just stay out of trouble and make it into the D team. MCS boasts some of the most extraordinary results in the country so&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;hardly surprising that Oxford and Cambridge are two of the most popular destinations for leavers, alongside Durham, LSE,&nbsp;Edinburgh&nbsp;and St Andrews (in 2025,&nbsp;24&nbsp;pupils&nbsp;attained&nbsp;places at Oxbridge of Ivy League universities).&nbsp;Uni&nbsp;subjects range from Physics to History and Architecture, with an impressive 13 of the 2025 leavers off to study medicine or dentistry.&nbsp;So&nbsp;standards are unapologetically high here and subjects are on the traditional side (the&nbsp;most quirky&nbsp;– er, Latin and Greek).&nbsp;</p>



<p>The 2025 cohort celebrated a stellar 93% of A Level grades at A*-B, with 8% at A*-A and 43% at A*. In addition, 42 pupils (over a quarter of the year group)&nbsp;attained&nbsp;3 A*s or more, with 24 achieving 4 A*s or more and 7 achieving 5 A*s. All pupils in receipt of full bursaries achieved grade A* or A in all their subjects. The 2025 GCSE results were equally impressive –&nbsp;61% of all grades were grade 9, over&nbsp;83% grades 9-8 and 94% grades 9-7. 40% of the year group (45 pupils) achieved 10 grades 9-8, while 12 pupils secured at least 10 grade 9s. 97% of grades achieved by pupils in receipt of bursaries were 7 or above. 100% of Religious Studies grades were 9-8 and, for the&nbsp;second year&nbsp;running, 100% of Maths grades were 7 or above. All grades in Geography, German,&nbsp;Greek&nbsp;and Latin were also 7 or above.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extra-curricular">EXTRA CURRICULAR</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-7.jpg" alt="Magdalen College drama" class="wp-image-201829" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-7.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-7-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-7-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-7-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>MCS’ reputation is unabashedly high-achieving and competitive, but&nbsp;there’s&nbsp;also a&nbsp;huuuuge&nbsp;co-curricular element. Like drama? Go perform it at the Oxford Playhouse. Love sport? Learn from their professional coaches<strong>. </strong>A fan of the arts? The school started its own annual festival in 2008 which has now grown into the two-week, 100 event extravaganza that is the Oxford Festival of the Arts.<strong> </strong>If your child is an unashamed geek or not keen to run with the pack, you still have options – Warhammer Club, Bell Ringing Club,&nbsp;flippin’ Cryptic Crossword Club!&nbsp;You’re&nbsp;getting my drift here.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-4.jpg" alt="Magdalen College art" class="wp-image-201832" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-4.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-4-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-4-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-4-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quirks">QUIRKS</h2>



<p>Well,&nbsp;I’m&nbsp;not sure how many schools can boast a Saint among their alumni. Sir Thomas More studied here as a child (as did the patron saint of the Bond Films, film director Sam Mendes). Having world-class choristers within your school ranks is&nbsp;pretty amazing&nbsp;too&nbsp;(children can audition from 6 years old).&nbsp;I love the secret passageway that takes the choristers from the Junior School underneath the road to the chapel,&nbsp;and,&nbsp;on May Morning, to the tower to sing to the crowds amassed below&nbsp;(a tradition which&nbsp;dates&nbsp;back more than 500 years).&nbsp;Other than that, I think Magdalen College School would be the first to say&nbsp;they’re&nbsp;not at the vanguard of quirky and eccentric.&nbsp;They’re&nbsp;about tradition,&nbsp;intelligence&nbsp;and achievement.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;a place where ability is respected.&nbsp;Maybe now, with so many schools worried about over-egging the role of academics versus ‘softer’ skills, the biggest quirk is how unapologetic MCS is about its drive for excellence.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-5.jpg" alt="Magdalen College choir" class="wp-image-201831" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-5.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-5-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-5-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wrap-around-care">WRAP-AROUND CARE</h2>



<p>The Senior&nbsp;School day&nbsp;ends at 3.50pm and pupils can stay on site for activities or study in the library until 6.00pm. The Junior School runs a daily after-school care service for all pupils until 5.30pm, where&nbsp;they&nbsp;can finish homework before activities start. MCS runs a home-to-school bus service with 12 routes&nbsp;operating&nbsp;across Oxfordshire, Berkshire,&nbsp;Buckinghamshire&nbsp;and Northamptonshire.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-headteacher">HEADTEACHER</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-3.jpg" alt="Magdalen College head teacher" class="wp-image-201833" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-3.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-3-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-3-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/Magdalen-College-3-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>The Master of the Senior School is Helen Pike who is, frankly, impressive. She’s brainy. She rocks a suit. She’s tall. She has the aura of a woman who can trounce you even at your own Mastermind specialist subject. She’s slightly scary in a way a female headteacher should be. And how wonderful must it be to be called ‘Master’ by everyone? Pike has form in this city – she&#8217;s an Oxford graduate herself, and two of her three step-children were educated at MCS. It was recently announced that Pike will step away from her role at the end of the 2026/2027 academic year, and the search is currently on for a formidable successor. </p>



<p>Across at the Junior School, Tim Skipwith has been Head since 2012, with a decade teaching Biology at the Senior School before that. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fees">FEES</h2>



<p>For 2026/2027: Senior School £10,036 (incl. VAT) per term. Junior School: J1-J2 £9,665 (incl. VAT) per term, J3-J4 £10,036 (incl. VAT) per term.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="665" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Photo-9.jpg" alt="Magdalen college school pupils" class="wp-image-155401" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Photo-9.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Photo-9-800x532.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Photo-9-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p><strong>Good for</strong>: Go-getters, brainiacs, energetic alphas.</p>



<p><strong>Not for:&nbsp;</strong>Kids who don’t thrive in a fast-paced environment.</p>



<p><strong>Dare to disagree?!</strong> There are <a href="https://www.mcsoxford.org/admissions/open-days/book-an-open-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regular Open Events</a> running throughout the year, particularly during <strong>May and June</strong>.&nbsp;Booking is essential for all, so <a href="https://www.mcsoxford.org/admissions/open-days/book-an-open-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">register your interest</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em><a href="http://www.mcsoxford.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Magdalen College School</a>, Cowley Pl, Oxford OX4 1DZ. Tel:&nbsp;01865 242191</em>.</p>


Magdalen College School, Oxford

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