- Location
- Oxford
- Recorded age range
- 3–19
- Education
- British
About Headington Rye Oxford
Legacy of academic excellence. Part of wider educational institution. World-class facilities.
School background from the saved source · 2026-05-30
Headington School was founded in 1915 by a group of Evangelical Christians who wanted to provide "a sound education for girls to fit them for the demands and opportunities likely to arise after the war." The school began with ten boarding and eight day girls at Headington Lodge on Osler Road in east Oxford, and expanded steadily through the inter-war and post-war decades into a major GSA day and boarding school. In 2025 Headington merged with the neighbouring Rye St Antony School (founded 1930) to form Headington Rye Oxford, an enlarged single-school foundation. The combined school is girls-only and educates around 1,150 pupils aged 3-18. The Headmistress is Caroline Jordan.
The school is a member of the GSA, the BSA and ISI. It is set in east Oxford, directly adjacent to the University of Oxford, with the Headington Lodge buildings still in active use alongside more recent academic and boarding facilities. The school offers both A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the sixth form. Geographic proximity to Oxford produces a strong feeder relationship: a substantial portion of each sixth-form cohort wins offers to Oxford colleges each year, with similar strength in Cambridge admissions.
Headington's most internationally famous alumna is the former Prime Minister Theresa May, Baroness May of Maidenhead, who attended Headington in the 1970s on a bursary; she went on to read geography at St Hugh's College, Oxford, served as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016, and as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2019. The school's modern sporting reputation rests on its rowing programme, which is consistently among the strongest girls' school rowing programmes in the UK; Headington alumna Helen Glover MBE went on to become double Olympic gold medallist in coxless pairs (London 2012 and Rio 2016).
The school operates a substantial bursary programme intended to honour the 1915 Evangelical-Christian foundation principle of educational access regardless of family means.
School life and areas of focus
- English
- STEM
- Boarding experience
- Founded 1915 by Evangelical Christians — 111-year history
- Merged with neighbouring Rye St Antony in 2025 to form Headington Rye Oxford
- Girls-only ages 3-18 with c. 1,150 pupils
- Set in Headington, east Oxford, immediately adjacent to the University
- GSA member; both A-Levels and International Baccalaureate offered
- Strong Oxbridge feeder relationship (over 25% of leavers to Oxbridge in recent years)
- Top schoolgirls' rowing programme in the UK
- Theresa May, former Prime Minister, was a pupil
- 1,150-pupil community
- Day and boarding places available
- Church of England foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 47% achieve AAB+
- Strong in STEM, Drama, Sport
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Education and school life
Explore the curriculum and subjects below. Our team can help you find out about subject choices, year groups and programme availability.
- Programme type
- Boarding school
- Curriculum
- British
- Teaching language
- English
- Campus setting
- urban
Subject areas
- English Learning
- STEM
- Modern languages
- Rowing (top schoolgirls' rowing programme in UK)
- Music & drama
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- International Baccalaureate + A-Levels
- Drama
- Sport
- Outdoor
Listed memberships and accreditations
- GSA (Girls' Schools Association)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
- ISC (Independent Schools Council)
Study and progression pathways
- STEM
- Languages
- Oxbridge (geographic proximity to Oxford — feeder relationship)
- Russell Group (Imperial, UCL, LSE, Edinburgh)
- US universities
- Royal Academy of Music
- Oxbridge
- Edinburgh / St Andrews
Academic profile in the catalogue
No review date is recorded for these catalogue figures.
The legacy catalogue contains estimated academic figures without a measurement source. Ask our team about current class sizes and progression results.
Campus, boarding and student community
Catalogue profile
- Campus setting
- urban
- Boarding
- Listed in the catalogue
- Co-education
- Not recorded as co-educational; confirm intake
School-wide directory record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- School stages
- Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Directory age range
- 3-19
- Student intake
- Girls
- Attendance
- Day and boarding
- Religious ethos
- Church of England
- Inspectorate
- ISI
- Total pupils
- 1150
- Boys · number / share
- 25 · 2.17%
- Girls · number / share
- 1125 · 97.83%
- Pupils receiving SEN support · number / share
- 166 · 14.43%
- Pupils with an EHC plan · number / share
- 1 · 0.09%
Directory and catalogue figures are shown separately because their age groups or record dates may differ.
Recorded examination results
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- Qualification
- A-level
- Results year
- 2025
- Average grade
- A-
- Progress score
- 0.24 (Above Average)
- AAB or higher
- 47.10%
Results are for the year shown, separately from the estimated catalogue indicators.
Tuition and costs
Recorded GBP school fees
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
| Attendance | Recorded range |
|---|---|
| Day fees | £5,116.80 – £10,261.20 |
| Boarding fees | £15,772.80 – £17,487.60 |
These historical directory amounts are not a confirmed school quotation. The billing period, VAT, academic year and included costs need confirmation from the school.
Catalogue USD figures
Estimated catalogue fees · USD
Catalogue figures are shown in US dollars (USD). The fee period and academic year are not specified in this record. UK institutions generally publish their own fees in pounds sterling (GBP); check the current fee schedule rather than treating this range as a GBP price.
Ask the UniCampus team about the fee period, entry year, boarding and additional costs.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
Entry requirements depend on the school, age group and programme. Talk to the UniCampus team about school reports, language requirements, assessments and your application timeline.
- Catalogue application window
- Rolling
- Listed intake
- September 2026
These catalogue notes do not confirm an available place or a current deadline. MEC guidance can help you organise a shortlist and prepare questions for the school.
Support recorded in the catalogue
- Scholarships or bursaries
- Not specified in this record; ask the institution
- Visa application support
- Listed; confirm what assistance is provided
Source notes and alternative records
Dated background research is retained below; source descriptions may differ and have not been newly verified by UniCampus.
School background research · 2026-05-30
School background notes
Source record dated 2026-05-30 · Source text retained in English
Read this source's description in the school overview.
- Founded · source note
- 1915
- Campus setting · source note
- urban
- Religious ethos · source note
- Church of England (Evangelical Christian foundation)
- School leadership · source note
- Caroline Jordan (Headmistress)
- Scholarships · source note
- Mentioned in saved research; confirm current terms
Additional subject and programme notes
- Modern languages
- Rowing (top schoolgirls' rowing programme in UK)
- Music & drama
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- International Baccalaureate + A-Levels
Listed education pathways
- Oxbridge (geographic proximity to Oxford — feeder relationship)
- Russell Group (Imperial, UCL, LSE, Edinburgh)
- US universities
- Royal Academy of Music
Memberships and accreditations in the source
- GSA (Girls' Schools Association)
- BSA (Boarding Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
School-life notes
- Founded 1915 by Evangelical Christians — 111-year history
- Merged with neighbouring Rye St Antony in 2025 to form Headington Rye Oxford
- Girls-only ages 3-18 with c. 1,150 pupils
- Set in Headington, east Oxford, immediately adjacent to the University
- GSA member; both A-Levels and International Baccalaureate offered
- Strong Oxbridge feeder relationship (over 25% of leavers to Oxbridge in recent years)
- Top schoolgirls' rowing programme in the UK
- Theresa May, former Prime Minister, was a pupil
Notable alumni listed in the source
- Theresa May, Baroness May of Maidenhead (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 2016-19; Home Secretary 2010-16)
- Helen Glover MBE (double Olympic gold medallist in rowing)
- Emma Watson (actress — Hermione Granger in Harry Potter — attended for sixth form A-Levels in part)
- Numerous Old Headingtonians active in UK academia, journalism and finance
Additional school record · 2026-05-30
Additional saved school information
Source record dated 2026-05-30 · Source text retained in English
Why choose Headington Rye Oxford? The answer will be different depending on your own family circumstances and the point at which you choose to join us but throughout the School, we are proud to offer academic excellence, with Headington Rye Oxford consistently ranked in the top 100 UK schools, first-class specialist teaching at all levels, an impressive amount of choice in what and how your child will learn, flexibility and incredible facilities.
We offer a wide range of boarding options for girls from age 11, including full, weekly, half-weekly and occasional boarding. Even if your daughter never spends a night in the boarding houses, she will be able to take advantage of the fact Headington Rye Oxford is a school which never sleeps. Your daughter might join boarders for supper before a production or be invited for a sleepover with a friend. As well as a very generous range of clubs and activities after school, our boarding set up means you can drop off from 7.30 am and collect up until 6.00 pm.
We are incredibly lucky to have Oxford and its Dreaming Spires on our doorstep. It’s a truly inspirational setting, with countless writers, Prime Ministers, international leaders, Nobel Prize winners and Olympic medal winners boasting an Oxford education. Well-located with excellent road, rail and bus links, Oxford still manages to provide plentiful oases of green, packed with beautiful parks, nature reserves, woodlands and meadows.
- Scholarships · source note
- Not identified in this source
Additional subject and programme notes
- STEM
- Drama
- Sport
- Outdoor
Listed education pathways
- Oxbridge
- Edinburgh / St Andrews
Memberships and accreditations in the source
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
- ISC (Independent Schools Council)
School-life notes
- 1,150-pupil community
- Day and boarding places available
- Church of England foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 47% achieve AAB+
- Strong in STEM, Drama, Sport
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Schoolscout introduction
Headington Rye Oxford offers a vibrant and nurturing environment where students are encouraged to flourish both academically and personally. With a commitm...
School location
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18
- Recorded address
- Headington Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, South East, OX3 7TD
- Postcode
- OX3 7TD
Questions in the source record
Schoolscout · Source record dated 2026-05-18 · Original English answers
What type of school is Headington Rye Oxford?
Headington Rye Oxford is a girls' independent mainstream school for pupils aged 3 to 19, located near Oxford in Oxfordshire. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Headington Rye Oxford?
Applications typically begin 1–2 years in advance and may include registration, assessments and interviews. Families can explore the UK private school admissions timeline to understand key dates and entry points.
What are the fees at Headington Rye Oxford?
Fees for Headington Rye Oxford vary by year group, with typical termly costs around £5,116–£17,487.
Is Headington Rye Oxford a day or boarding school?
Pupils at Headington Rye Oxford can attend as day and boarding.
Is Headington Rye Oxford a single-sex or co-educational school?
Headington Rye Oxford is a girls' independent school.
Contact our team for current dates, entry criteria and fees.
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