Cherwell College Oxford
Same Oxfordshire area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
Magdalen College School is a private secondary-stage school in Oxford, Oxfordshire, with a published age range of 7-19.
Private school Co-ed Ages 7-19 Sixth form No boarders
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 7-19
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
Magdalen College School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 7-19
- Boarding ?
- No boarders
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Founded by William Waynflete in 1480, Magdalen College School carries a long Oxford connection while changing its pupil structure for the future. Girls already join the sixth form; full co-education is scheduled to bring girls into Years 3 and 4 in 2027 and Year 7 in 2030. The junior years, senior school and sixth form remain part of one selective day setting.
Waynflete Studies gives independent research a named place in the curriculum, alongside a broad and balanced academic programme, university links and visiting academics. Lilium provides the PSHCE strand, while 100 clubs and activities range from academic societies and outdoor pursuits to music, drama and sport.
Community partnerships extend beyond the Oxford setting. Work with organisations across East Oxford, the city and county includes educational events for local schools and youth groups, and sixth-form pupils undertake placements with partner organisations. There is no boarding, so these academic and civic opportunities sit within a day-school rhythm.
Entry points are 7+, 11+, 13+ and sixth form, with age-specific assessments and interviews. Academic and co-curricular scholarships are available, and means-tested bursaries can cover up to the full fee. The relevant independent-school standards were met in 2023.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 45 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 71.8% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Oxfordshire and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 45
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 2.77
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Oxfordshire and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 7-19
- Headteacher
- Miss Helen Pike
- Pupil roll
- 938 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Cowley Place, Oxford, Oxfordshire
- Postcode
- OX4 1DZ
- Area
- Oxfordshire
School leadership
- Headteacher
- Miss Helen Pike
School contact
- School phone
- 01865242191
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01865242191
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 7-19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- No boarders
- Day fees
- £10,036 per term for Senior School tuition in 2026/27, including VAT
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Check school site
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
- Papers and stages
- 1 paper
- Format
- Mixed format
Papers and rounds
-
Paper 1
English, Maths, Verbal reasoning
8+ entry tests
Candidates take English composition and comprehension, Maths and Verbal Reasoning tests; the published timings are 30, 35, 45 and 50 minutes respectively.
Published assessment components
English, Maths and Verbal reasoning are listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
-
English
-
Maths
-
Verbal reasoning
Candidates take English composition and comprehension, Maths and Verbal Reasoning tests; the published timings are 30, 35, 45 and 50 minutes respectively.
Application
Application
Key dates
Get date reminders-
Year 7 (September 2027) registration closes
31 October 2026
-
Year 7 (September 2027) bursary applications close
6 November 2026
-
Year 7 (September 2027) entrance examinations
16 January 2027
-
Year 7 (September 2027) interviews
26 or 27 January 2027
-
Year 7 (September 2027) results sent
4 February 2027
-
Year 7 (September 2027) place acceptance closes
1 March 2027
-
Year 7 (September 2027) induction day
2 July 2027
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 45 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 2.77 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 71.8% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 51.54 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 10 October 2023
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2023 records an inspection beginning 10 October 2023. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Shortlist comparisons
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Related pages and guides
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Area and ranking pages
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Magdalen College School handle admissions?
Magdalen College School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Magdalen College School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Magdalen College School?
Year 7 (September 2027) registration closes: 31 October 2026. Year 7 (September 2027) bursary applications close: 6 November 2026. Year 7 (September 2027) entrance examinations: 16 January 2027. Year 7 (September 2027) interviews: 26 or 27 January 2027. Year 7 (September 2027) results sent: 4 February 2027. Year 7 (September 2027) place acceptance closes: 1 March 2027. Year 7 (September 2027) induction day: 2 July 2027
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Magdalen College School?
Magdalen College School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 10 October 2023.