What it's like

Founded by 1256 and re-endowed in 1563, it was rebuilt on its present site in 1870. It now occupies a most agreeable estate of some 35 acres of grounds and handsome buildings, a few hundred yards from the centre of Abingdon and six miles from Oxford. Over the past 50 years there has been steady expansion, most recently adding a sports centre. Facilities are good and well-maintained, and boarding accommodation comfortable (weekly boarding is a deliberate policy). Dayboys are in the majority but in many ways it feels and operates like a boarding school. Pastoral care is particularly effective. The school is Anglican by tradition. It has the reputation of being a versatile, purposeful and unpretentious school which provides an academic all-round education. A staff:pupil ratio of about 1:10 ensures high academic standards and examination results are excellent. A high proportion of sixth form leavers goes on to Oxbridge each year. Music is particularly strong. A very large number of pupils learn a musical instrument; orchestras and choirs have vigorous support, as do other musical groups. Drama is also strong. Facilities for sports and games are first rate and there is a fair number of representatives at county level and rowing at a national standard. Numerous clubs and activities exist and an enterprising variety of overseas trips is organised annually. The CCF works in conjunction with community services and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. There are close connections with other local schools - including some joint sixth form teaching with St Helen and St Katharine girls' school - and with the local community and The Mercers' Company.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Age range 11-18; 860 boys (740 day, 120 boarding). Entrance: Main entry ages 11, 13 and 16. Own entrance exam at 11, Common Entrance or scholarship exam at 13; for sixth-form entry, at least 3 A grades and 2 Bs at GCSE. No special skills or religious requirements. 60% of intake at 11 from a large number of state primary schools (plus few to sixth form). Pupils at 13 come from own prep school, Abingdon Prep School, and from Brockhurst, Christ Church Cathedral School, the Dragon, Moulsford, New College School, Oratory Prep, Elstree, St Hugh's.

Scholarships & bursaries

Scholarships, value £ 300 to 100% fees (through addition of means-tested bursaries): 4-6 pa at 11 (academic, for 2 years only), 20-25 pa at 13 (academic, art and design, music, drama and sport), 3-6 sixth form. Lunches and textbooks are included in the fees.

Parents

30+% are doctors, lawyers etc; 35+% in industry/commerce; 17% academics. 80% live within 30 miles, under 10% live overseas.

Head & staff

Headmistress: Miss Felicity Lusk in post from 2010. Educated at Marsden Collegiate, New Zealand, and at Victoria University (music), Massey University and Christchurch Teachers' College (education). Previously Head of Oxford High and Deputy Headteacher at Hasmonean High School, London. Also independent member of the Standards Committee of the City of London Corporation; and has been Governor of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Councillor London Borough of Enfield and member of the Court of Oxford Brookes University. Teaching staff of 105. Annual turnover 7%. Average age early 40s.

Exam results

GCSE: 149 pupils in fifth, all gaining at least grade C in 7+ subjects (average in 9.4 subjects). A-levels: 133 in upper sixth, passing an average of 3.4 subjects, with a final point score of 413.

Pupils' destinations

99% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (40% after a gap year), some 20% to Oxbridge. 40% took courses in science, engineering and medicine, 40% in humanities, social sciences and art, 20% in vocational subjects.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 26 subjects at AS/A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 or 4 at A-level. 15% take science A-levels; 15% arts/humanities; 70% both. Aspects of key skills are taught. Some sixth form teaching jointly with St Helen and St Katharine. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Full-time learning support coordinator and EFL teacher (additional English for non-native speakers), both with part-time assistants. Successful with able/gifted children. Languages: French, German, Greek, Chinese, Russian and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges to France, Russia and Germany. Satellite link for French and German TV; computer link with French schools. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 160 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with broadband email and internet access. Pupils take Clait.

The arts

Music: 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; many instrumental exams are taken at a high level. Some 20+ musical groups including 3 orchestras, 5 bands, 2 choirs, choral society, flute, cello, clarinet, brass ensembles, jazz, various chamber groups. Recent winners of Daily Telegraph Jazz Competition and Chandos Symphony Orchestra Young Musician Competition; regional finalists in National Chamber Music Competition; finalist in National Choirboy of the Year Competition; representation in the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition; pupils are members of National Jazz Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra and 25 boys in regional youth orchestra. Regular music tours. Drama: Drama vigorous. GCSE and A-level drama may be taken. Regular productions and drama festivals. Art and design: On average, 28 take GCSE, 8 A-level. Design, ceramics also offered. Up to 4 pupils a year accepted for art school; 1 pupil commissioned to do sculpture for local art centre.

Sports & activities

Sport: Rugby, hockey, cricket compulsory 11-13. Optional: rowing, tennis, cross-country, athletics, badminton, table tennis, fencing, swimming, sailing, golf, rugby, fives, squash, shooting. Rowing internationals, GB trialists; national and regional representatives for hockey, rugby and cricket (various age groups); number of county rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis; rowing 1st VIII in national top five, won all three major titles recently and National Schools' Regatta. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF and community service optional. Energetic charity fund raising. Programme of extra-curricular activities (known as The Other Half) includes around 80 activities including chess, debating, film unit, electronics, brewing, politics, bridge, literary, history, modern languages.

School life

Uniform: Simple school uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. 2 head boys, prefects, head of house and house prefects. Religion: Attendance at short weekly religious service compulsory (unless prior dispensation). Social: Joint activities with other schools eg debates, drama productions (local girls' schools), careers evenings, choral work; some joint sixth form teaching with St Helen and St Katharine. Annual cultural visits to eg Turkey, Egypt, Italy; ski trips; language exchanges to Russia, Germany and France; music tours eg orchestra to Central/Eastern Europe, big band to the Netherlands, Greece and France, choir to Western Europe. Meals occasionally formal, usually self-service. No alcohol allowed.

Discipline

Response to misdemeanours depends on age and past record but poor work is penalised, separately, in a special work detention. Major, ie law-breaking, offences (drugs, theft) punished by expulsion.

Boarding

10% have own study bedrooms; 80% share with 1-3 others. Houses of 25-55. Resident qualified nurse; doctor attends frequently. Pupils can provide and cook own food. Weekly boarders can stay at weekends. Older boys may visit local town at housemaster's discretion.

Association of former pupils

The Old Abingdonian Club, c/o the school.

Former pupils

Francis Maude MP, Peter Bradley MP; Ben Macintyre (journalist); Tom Kempinski (playwright); Julius Green, Robin Kermode, Tom Hollander, Toby Jones (the theatre); Michael Grigsby (documentary filmmaker); Sir Andrew Foster (Audit Commission); Radiohead (pop group); Tim Parker (Clarks International).