- Location
- Oxford
- Age range
- 4–19
- Attendance
- Day school
About Oxford High School GDST
Schoolscout directory record ·
Oxford High School GDST offers a vibrant and nurturing environment that encourages girls to thrive academically and personally. With a rich tradition of ex...
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Oxford High School was founded in 1875 as one of the Girls' Public Day School Trust (now GDST) foundations, providing academically rigorous day-school education for the daughters of Oxford University dons and Oxford professional families. The school operates today on a central Oxford campus and educates around 789 pupils ages 3-18. The Headmistress is Helen Whyte. The school is a member of the GSA and the GDST and is inspected by the ISI.
The school's geographic position in central Oxford — immediately adjacent to the University of Oxford — produces a particularly strong Oxford feeder relationship. A-Level results place Oxford High consistently in the top five UK girls' independent schools by Oxbridge offer rate.
The school's most internationally significant alumna is Dame Iris Murdoch DBE — the Anglo-Irish philosopher and novelist whose 26 novels (The Sea, The Sea won the 1978 Man Booker Prize; The Bell, Under the Net, The Black Prince, The Good Apprentice) made her among the most important post-war English novelists, and whose philosophical work as a leading figure of the Oxford ordinary-language school placed her at the heart of mid-twentieth-century British analytical philosophy. Murdoch attended the school in the 1930s. The primatologist Dame Jane Goodall DBE — founder of modern chimpanzee field research at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania from 1960, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, and the leading global advocate for ape conservation for sixty years — was an Oxford High girl.
The school is governed by the Girls' Day School Trust and operates a substantial bursary programme via the GDST charitable foundation, intended to maintain the founding Victorian principle of educational access for academically able girls regardless of family means.
Additional source record ·
At Oxford High School GDST we don’t just educate, we ignite. This is not a place that shapes young women, it’s a place that enables them to shape themselves. For 150 years, we’ve stood for something more than academic excellence. We’ve stood for originality, for courage, and for the kind of education that gives girls the confidence to be unapologetically themselves and do brilliant things.
We’re proud to be part of a city that thrives on learning and discovery, and even prouder to be part of the GDST who understand how high-achieving young women flourish. Our staff know each student deeply and not just how she learns, but how she dreams, and they work to support her journey, lifting her towards her ambitions with care and high expectations.
Oxford High School is a place of spirit, fun, and fierce ambition. It’s a place where community matters, where voices rise, and where every girl is encouraged to take up space, speak her mind, and make her mark.
School life and highlights in the catalogue
- Founded 1875 as a GPDST (now GDST) school — 151-year history
- Part of the Girls' Day School Trust (25 schools across the UK)
- Girls-only ages 3-18 with ≈789 pupils
- Set in central Oxford — geographic feeder relationship to the University of Oxford
- GSA and GDST member
- Most internationally significant alumna: Dame Iris Murdoch, philosopher and novelist
- Substantial bursary programme via the GDST charitable foundation
- Founded in 2014
- 789-pupil community
- Jewish foundation
- A-Level A*-B*: 44% achieve AAB+
- Strong in STEM, Arts, Drama
- Strong Oxbridge progression
Education and school life
- Education levels
- Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, Sixth Form
- Age range
- 4–19
- Attendance
- Day school
- Pupil intake
- Girls
- School type
- Mainstream
- Religious ethos
- None listed in this source
- Listed inspectorate
- ISI
Subjects and qualifications
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Modern languages
- Music
- Drama
- Sport
- STEM
- Arts
Listed memberships and accreditations
- GDST (Girls' Day School Trust)
- GSA (Girls' Schools Association)
- ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)
Progression and destinations in the catalogue
- Oxbridge (geographic proximity to Oxford — top 5 girls' school by Oxbridge offer rate)
- Russell Group (Cambridge, Imperial, UCL)
- Medical schools
- International universities
- Oxbridge
Alumni notes
- Dame Iris Murdoch DBE (philosopher and novelist — The Sea, The Sea; Under the Net; founding member of the Oxford ordinary-language school of philosophy)
- Dame Jane Goodall DBE (primatologist; founder of modern chimpanzee field-research methodology at Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania)
- Old Oxford High girls active in UK academia and the arts
Supporting school records
These dated records may contain different information. Ask our team about current details.
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
- Headteacher / principal
- Helen Whyte (Headmistress)
- Founded
- 1875
- Religious ethos
- Non-denominational
- Campus setting
- Urban
- Scholarships / bursaries
- Options indicated; confirm availability and eligibility.
Additional source record ·
- Founded
- 2014
- Religious ethos
- Jewish
Pupil information
- Total pupils
- 789
- Girls
- 789 · 100%
- Pupils receiving SEN support
- 145 · 18.38%
- Pupils with an EHCP
- 1 · 0.13%
Counts and percentages are reproduced from the directory. SEN means special educational needs; EHCP means Education, Health and Care Plan. A pupil census year is not supplied.
A-Level results
- Results year
- 2025
- Progress score
- 0.11 (Average)
- Average grade
- A-
- AAB percentage
- 44.30%
Results refer to the year shown. The directory does not provide a cohort size or a full methodology for these measures.
Tuition and costs
The fee year is not specified. Ask our team about current fees, VAT and included services.
Schoolscout directory record ·
| Attendance | GBP · Period and VAT unverified |
|---|---|
| Day | £4,706.4 – £8,223.6 |
Current fees and VAT treatment require confirmation from the school. Directory labels are not a verified school quotation.
Check whether boarding, meals, registration, deposits, examinations, trips and guardian arrangements are included. Amounts are in pounds sterling (GBP), without currency conversion.
Ask about current feesPlanning your application
Talk to the UniCampus team about entry points, available places, assessments, language requirements and application dates. Admission arrangements vary by age and year group.
Read the directory’s school and admissions questions below.
MEC guidance can help you compare schools and organise the questions and documents needed for your next step. An enquiry or comparison does not submit an application.
Explore MEC guidanceQuestions in the school directory
Schoolscout directory record ·
What type of school is Oxford High School GDST?
Oxford High School GDST is a girls' independent mainstream school for pupils aged 4 to 19, located near Oxford in Oxfordshire. The school offers education from Pre-Prep through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to Oxford High School GDST?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
Most families apply to Oxford High School GDST 1–2 years before entry, with a process that can include tests, interviews and school reports. See the private school admissions timeline for when to apply and what to expect.
What are the fees at Oxford High School GDST?
Historical directory text below. Its fees, billing period and VAT have not been verified with the school.
The cost of attending Oxford High School GDST typically ranges around £4,706–£8,223 per term, with variations based on age and boarding.
Is Oxford High School GDST a day or boarding school?
Oxford High School GDST offers day options. Where boarding is available, this may include full, weekly or flexi arrangements.
Is Oxford High School GDST a single-sex or co-educational school?
Oxford High School GDST offers a girls' learning environment.
School location and enquiries
- Street address
- Belbroughton Road
- Town / locality
- Oxford
- County
- Oxfordshire
- Region
- South East
- Postcode
- OX2 6XA
- Country
- United Kingdom
Talk to our team about this school, current fees and your application.
Enquire about this schoolView the school locationBelbroughton Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, South East, OX2 6XASchoolscout directory record ·
Supplementary catalogue notes ·
Additional source record ·
Collection and catalogue update dates are shown above; they are not fee years or pupil census dates. Source text is retained in its original language. The school’s official information takes precedence for current admissions, programmes and fees.