The King's School
Same Oxfordshire area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
St Hugh's School is a private secondary-stage school in Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, with a published age range of 3-16.
Private school Co-ed Ages 3-16 No sixth form listed Boarding school
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 3-16
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
St Hugh's School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 3-16
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- 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
Carswell Manor has been St Hugh's setting since the move from Chislehurst in 1945, and co-education from 1977 helped shape the community that now occupies the 45-acre Oxfordshire estate. The route runs from age 3 through the prep years and into a Senior School for the GCSE stage, with the scale kept deliberately manageable.
Kindness, respect, independence, collaboration, courage and curiosity give the curriculum its human dimension. English, mathematics and science share the timetable with humanities, languages, arts and sport, allowing academic challenge to sit alongside creativity, critical thinking and the ability to work with others.
September 2026 brings a major expansion as the Senior School opens for Years 9 to 11. Specialist teaching, small classes, I/GCSE preparation and co-curricular work in sport, music, drama and outdoor education are planned for the new stage. The age-range change means this is a school in transition, so the senior offer should be checked as the first cohort settles.
Weekly and flexi boarding remain available, with houseparents, shared routines and close pastoral support. Senior applications use school reports, CAT scores and a meeting with the Headmaster or Assistant Head Admissions, and the route specifically excludes the ISEB Pre-Test.
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
- Independent-school performance data is patchier in official releases, so GCSE and A-level comparisons should be checked against the school's published results.
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
- 3-16
- Headmaster
- Mr David Griffiths
- Pupil roll
- 310 pupils
- Sixth form
- No
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Carswell Manor, Faringdon, Oxfordshire
- Postcode
- SN7 8PT
- Area
- Oxfordshire
School leadership
- Headmaster
- Mr David Griffiths
School contact
- School phone
- 01367870700
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01367870700
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 3-16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- Check school fees page
- Boarding fees
- Check school fees page
- 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
Application
Application
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
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: 4 November 2025
- 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 2025 records an inspection beginning 4 November 2025. The report says the relevant standards were met.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
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Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
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Nearby schools with similar results
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
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Shortlist comparisons
Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does St Hugh's School handle admissions?
St Hugh's School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to St Hugh's 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 St Hugh's School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for St Hugh's School?
St Hugh's School is currently rated Standards met following the latest published inspection dated 4 November 2025.