Top Schools In Oxfordshire and Where to Live Nearby
Thinking of moving with your family and keen to learn more about the top schools in Oxfordshire and where to live nearby?
Oxfordshire has some of the best schools in the UK offering high-quality education to students of all ages. With a range of state-funded and independent schools, families moving to the county have plenty of options to consider.
In this blog, we highlight some of the top independent schools in Oxfordshire and suggest places to live nearby:
Headington School
Headington School, located in Headington, Oxford, is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 3 to 18. Its aim is to enable each student to grow as an individual, achieve their academic potential, and be emotionally and socially adept.
Scholarships are available for academic excellence and other areas of achievement including art, music, and sport.
Places to Live Near Headington School
Headington
Headington School, in the suburb of Headington, is home to families, young professionals, and students, due partly to its proximity to the major Oxford hospitals and Oxford Brookes University. Headington has a variety of shops, restaurants, and pubs, and the amenities of Oxford city centre are 2.5 miles away.
There are two railway stations in Oxford: one in the city centre and Oxford Parkway to the north of the ring road. There are frequent buses into Oxford city centre and to London.
Great Milton
Great Milton is a pretty village 8 miles east of Headington School. It is surrounded by open countryside and is home to Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons restaurant, which has two Michelin stars. Other amenities include a shop and post office, a pub, and a primary school.
The nearest train stations are Oxford Parkway and Haddenham & Thame Parkway, and there is a regular bus service to Oxford city centre.
Tudor Hall, Banbury
Tudor Hall is an independent day and boarding school for girls aged 11-18, located 2.5 miles southwest of Banbury, it is one of the top schools in Oxfordshire. The school selects students for their personal strengths as well as their academic ability, nurturing the individuality and talents of each student and producing excellent academic results.
Scholarships are available for academics and those talented in the visual arts, music, drama, and sport.
Places to Live Near Tudor Hall
The Sibfords
Sibford Gower, Sibford Ferris, and Burdrop are adjoining villages 6 miles west of Tudor Hall. Large areas of each village are protected by a conservation area, which protects their character and charm.
The amenities in the villages include a shop and post office, a doctor’s surgery, two pubs, a primary school, and Sibford School, a highly regarded independent co-ed school for 3 to 18 year olds.
The nearest train station is in Banbury and there is are regular bus services to Banbury and Stratford-upon-Avon.
Hook Norton
Hook Norton, known locally as ‘Hooky’, is a characterful village 7 miles southwest of Tudor Hall. Best known for its historic Victorian brewery, the village also has a shop and post office, butcher, doctor’s surgery, dentist, two pub hotels, and a primary school. Around two thirds of the village is within a conservation area.
The nearest train stations are in Banbury and Charlbury, and there are regular bus services to Banbury and Chipping Norton.
Both The Sibfords and Hook Norton are situated within 1.5 miles of the Cotswolds Area of outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and are surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Moulsford Preparatory School
Another of the top schools in Oxfordshire is Moulsford Preparatory School, an independent day and boarding school for boys approximately 3 miles south of Wallingford. The school caters to boys aged 3-13 years old and as of September 2023 has become co-educational from pre-school to Year 2.
The school’s aim is not only to educate, but to also nurture each child and develop their individual talents and abilities.
Places to Live Near Moulsford Preparatory School
Wallingford
Wallingford is a beautiful small market town 3.5 miles north of Moulsford Prep with a range of amenities including supermarkets, independent shops, doctor’s surgeries, dental practices, primary schools, restaurants, and pubs.
Wallingford is on the west bank of the River Thames and situated between the Chilterns AONB and the North Wessex Downs AONB. The nearest railway stations are Didcot Parkway and Cholsey, and there are bus services to Oxford, Reading, and Henley-on-Thames.
Goring
Goring is a quaint village 3 miles south of Moulsford Prep. It sits on the east bank of the River Thames and is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Chiltern Hills and the North Wessex Downs.
Goring’s amenities include a range of independent shops, doctor’s surgeries, a dental practice, a primary school, restaurants, pubs, and cafes.
Goring and Streatley Railway Station is in the village, and there are bus services to Reading, Pangbourne, and Wallingford.
Abingdon School
Abingdon School, in the town of Abingdon, is an independent school for boys with a prep school for ages 4 to 13 and a senior school for ages 11 to 18. Full or weekly boarding is available from age 13.
Abingdon School prides itself on academic excellence together with a range of over 150 extra-curricular activities called the ‘Other Half’ to signify that academic studies represent only half of a fully rounded education.
Scholarships are available for academics and those talented in art, design and technology, music, drama, and sport.
Places to Live Near Abingdon School
Dorchester on Thames
Dorchester on Thames is a historic village 7 miles east of Abingdon School. It is situated close to the River Thames and the Chilterns AONB and has many period properties.
Amenities include a convenience shop, three pub hotels, two cafes, and a primary school. The 12th-century Dorchester Abbey holds a variety of concerts and cultural events.
The closest railway stations are Culham and Didcot Parkway, and there are bus services to Wallingford, Didcot, and Oxford.
Sutton Courtenay
Sutton Courtenay is a characterful village on the River Thames situated 4 miles south of Abingdon School. The village’s amenities include two convenience stores, a post office, three pubs and restaurants, and a primary school.
The closest railway stations are Culham and Didcot Parkway, and there is a bus service to Abingdon, Oxford, Didcot, and Wallingford.
Cokethorpe School, Witney
Cokethorpe School, 3 miles south of Witney, is an independent co-educational day school for students aged 4 to 18 and known to be one of the top schools in Oxfordshire. The school offers a liberal education ensuring the interests, talents, and ambitions of each student are embraced alongside their academic studies.
Cokethorpe is a Microsoft Showcase School, due to its teachers being recognised as experts in applying the benefits of technology to the classroom.
The school offers academic scholarships and an awards programme for art, design and technology, drama, music, and sport.
Places to Live Near Cokethorpe School
Witney
Witney is a vibrant market town, with a population of around 30,000, situated within 3 miles of the Cotswolds AONB. The town offers a mixture of high street and independent shops, many pubs, restaurants, cafes, and the full range of amenities usual in a town of this size.
Hanborough is the closest railway station, and there are regular bus services to destinations including Oxford, Abingdon, Chipping Norton, and Cheltenham.
Bampton
Bampton is a picturesque village approximately 6 miles southwest of Cokethorpe School. In recent years it has become best known as the filming location for the local village in Downton Abbey. Amenities include a post office, village shop, pubs, restaurants, and cafes, and a primary school.
The closest railway station with regular services is Hanborough, and there are bus services to Witney and Carterton.
Finding a Home near the Top Schools in Oxfordshire
If you’re looking to find a home near the top schools in Oxfordshire, our team of professional property finders are on hand to guide and advise you on where to find a suitable home and will assist with securing the ideal home.
