WHAT? WHERE?

Big news at Shiplake College! Nestled by the river, a couple of miles upstream from Henley, this day and boarding school is going fully co-ed. In 2024, it welcomed it’s second Year 7 co-ed cohort, achieving 42% of girls in Year 7 and 8, along with a record 74 girls in the Sixth Form (which has been co-ed since 1998).

Set in 45 acres of gorgeous countryside, with a mix of stunning red brick Victorian mansion (the Great Hall is particularly impressive) and more modern additions, including a new boathouse with state-of-the-art gym. Shiplake has what it terms ‘a holistic approach’ to admissions assessments, looking at the whole child and what they offer (and what the school can offer in return), with academic results only part of the selection criteria for its 540 pupils.

FACILITIES

/SPORTS

Shiplake isn’t short of good facilities but its major calling card is a beautiful riverside position with its own stretch of water for rowing – one of the reasons it’s now the UK’s No.1 co-educational rowing school. In 2021, Shiplake’s female crew won the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup for women’s quadruple sculls at Henley Royal Regatta, in 2023 the College was the first to have both a boys’ crew and a girls’ crew in the semi-finals at Henley Regatta, and in 2024 Shiplake was the only school to have a crew in each of the four junior events, and they all won their first race, the boys’ eight reaching the final. A number of past and present Shiplake pupils have rowed for Team GB and the Director of Rowing Dave Currie coaches junior GB athletes too, so, you know, not bad! 

Some serious money has been spent on the new boathouse that opened in 2020 – or to give it its official name the Davies Centre. The goal is to develop a world-class rowing reputation. Aside from storage for the college’s fleet of rowing boats (and there are a lot), it’s home to a state-of-the-art fitness suite including 30 ergo rowing machines – positioned to get a river view, indoor archery and rifle range, a two-storey climbing wall, storage for other watersports, outdoor education, CCF and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award equipment. Without question it is a breath-taking location, and it’s a new addition that will not fail to impress.

What else? Expect the usual array of sports fields, plus an all-weather astro, a cricket pavilion overlooking the front field, a large multipurpose sports centre, and weights and cardio fitness rooms. There’s a heated outdoor swimming pool that’s used in the summer months. Hockey, netball and rowing are the three main sports for girls with tennis as a summer option, football and cricket gaining in popularity. Boys play mostly rugby, football, and cricket. There’s also yoga, run club, basketball, tennis, and the school will support the pursuit of individual activities out of school such as horse riding.

/ ARTS

It’s not all about sport. It’s cool to sing and the arts are strong here too. The John Turner Building houses the Music Department with its recording studio, practice rooms and two ensemble classrooms, an airy Art Department (above) and also a Thinking Space within the library area where the kids can read, research and have quiet reflective time (oh god, can I have some?).

Marjorie’s Café, sitting in the centre of the site, is a grown up, contemporary space for Y12 and 13s to socialise and work. There’s also a 140-seat lecture theatre, complete with baby grand piano. Whereas many schools have invested in high tech theatres, The Tithe Barn Theatre in the Grade II-listed Stableyard area is an intimate venue. It’s solely used for drama, and has had a recent upgrade of lights, but is perhaps the weakest link in comparison to the first class facilities on offer here. They’ve started using the theatre in Henley for larger productions, such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat or Alice Through the Looking Glass.

ACADEMICS

Shiplake makes it clear on its website and prospectus that it’s a selective all-ability school – putting the development of the ‘whole child’ above academics. A dynamic Master of Scholars challenges and stretches the most gifted, while there is plenty of support on hand for those who need it.

Results have improved in recent years, boasting record-breaking exam results this year. The old put down of ‘you’re so Shiplake’ is long gone! 2024’s A levels saw 97% A*-C (up from 88% in 2023 and 86% in pre-pandemic 2019). The GCSE grades? Also improvements on 2019 results, with 34% awarded grades 7 or above (A*-A), 58% grades 7-6 (A*-B) and 93% of grades at 4 or above, the equivalent of the former C grade. Also worth mentioning that BTECs are on offer here for kids looking for more practical qualifications.

THE HEAD

The Headmaster, Tyrone Howe, is a big believer in Shiplake’s core values – the so-called 3i’s: inclusive, individual, and inspirational. And his challenge to new pupils is always to be kind and bring their own bit of magic with them to school. Howe has been in the hot seat since September 2019 and is an energetic and charismatic head. He moved to Shiplake from Uppingham School in Rutland, having started his teaching career at Marlborough College. He left to become a professional rugby player, representing Ireland, the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians. Oh, and he was a Sky Sports rugby pundit too. 

It’s fair to say he fits right in; rugby is just as big as rowing at Shiplake. But Howe’s focus is not all about first team success (although everyone loves a win). He’s passionate about all sport and getting as many kids as possible to have a go, harnessing that competitive spirit and enthusiasm across all of school life. Inclusivity, community and kindness are the key to Shiplake’s success. 

He’s fun too. He offers a Golden Ticket reward system for academic progress (not achievement). Get your mitts on one and you get a seat at a lavish lunch. Check out his 2024 Prize Giving video above.

BOARDING

Full, weekly, flexi-boarding and overnight stays are all possible here, with around 5% of pupils coming from overseas. From 2025 there will be four boarding houses, with junior boys’ and junior girls’ houses for Years 9-11 and sixth form boys’ and sixth form girls’ houses for Years 12 and 13. The boarding houses are homely, neat and pretty much as you’d expect – perfectly adequate to the purpose.

The latest ISI inspection, in May 2022, showed the College achieved full compliance and the top category of ‘excellent’ in both Achievement and the Personal Development of the pupils. Read the full report here to find out what makes Shiplake so special.

QUIRKS

Quite a few, as it happens. You’d better be a dog lover if you’re heading to Shiplake – there are around 30 dogs on site at any one time in offices and boarding houses! Not many secondary schools that I visit give every pupil in Year 7 and 8 free lessons in orchestral instruments, and then immediately hoiks them into the orchestra on joining in Year 7 (ear plugs at the ready for that one). There’s a great Outdoor Education programme from Year 7, which includes use of the new climbing wall, and Combined Cadet Force (CCF) from Year 10 too. And the Thinking Space in the library is quite ‘out there’ – inspired by companies such as Google and Innocent, and based on the idea that creative spaces help to encourage creative thought and includes ‘flow’ and ‘green’ rooms to encourage collaboration or quiet focus.

FEES

Pretty much in line with the other leading independent schools in the area I’d say. Day pupils £7,660 – £9,740 per term (which includes lunch and supper); Flexi boarding (up to 2 nights a week) £11,930 per term; Weekly boarding £13,660 per term (up to 6 nights a week); Full boarding £15,180 per term. Choking on your cornflakes? If you can’t afford the fees there is (means-tested) financial assistance available and also one 100% scholarship for an exceptional Year 7, aimed at boys from state primary schools. Check out the website for the admissions timelines, including the deadlines for registering, for entry at Year 7, 9 and 12.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Shiplake’s reputation has been on the up for some time, and the school is a strong option in the area. The kids I spoke to were happy here, describing the school as friendly and inclusive. Word is that the sixth form boarders would like a bit more freedom than they’re given (but really, my kids would say the same). Seriously though, it’s hard to get a bad word out of the pupils about this place. If anyone has any issues, they’re encouraged and feel able to call it out. There is a growing culture here of talking things through rather than sweeping problems under the carpet.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: The small class sizes (generally between 15-16 for GCSE) and ‘join in’ ethos means Shiplake suits kids who are bright and have a can-do attitude. Sporty types will be in heaven, rowers especially. Art and Photography are regarded as strong subjects. The number of girls is good in Sixth Form and will organically grow once the school transitions to co-ed.

NOT FOR:  The all-ability cohort won’t appeal to those looking to surround their kids with super brain-boxes. The school has some innovations such as kids not taking notes during some subject classes (Microsoft Teams is used heavily) that might not please traditionalists.

WANT TO SEE FOR YOURSELF? Check out the school’s upcoming Open Events on 22 March and 20 September 2025 (Whole School) and 11 October 2025 (Sixth Form).

Shiplake College, Shiplake, Henley, Oxfordshire RG9 4BW. Tel:0118 940 2455.