PrepboysBoardingISI · Excellent

Cothill House

Abingdon, Oxfordshire · OX13 6JL

Pupils

159

Day fees

Not published

Inspection

Excellent

Read report

Cothill House is a small, traditional boys' boarding prep school near Abingdon, Oxfordshire, serving pupils from age 7 to 13. With around 160 pupils, it maintains a close-knit community ethos typical of quality independent preps, offering both day and boarding options. The school emphasises classical prep education with strong emphasis on academics, pastoral care, and character development through structured routines and house-based community. As an unregistered school with Ofsted, it operates under independent school standards and focuses on preparing boys for entry to leading senior schools.

  • →Boarding option with established pastoral care tradition for boys seeking full residential experience
  • →Small size (159 pupils) enabling personalised attention and individual progress tracking
  • →Strong track record of 13+ entry to top independent senior schools including Winchester, Radley, and other HMC schools

Who thrives here

Boys who thrive in structured, traditional boarding environments; those seeking small-school community feel; pupils aiming for competitive senior school entry.

Strengths at a glance

Exam resultsno dataSports56th pctCo-curricular50th pctValue vs peersno dataPastoral & wellbeing100th pct

Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.

At a glance

School typePrep · Boarding
Founded1870
Number of pupils159
Boarders164
Age range7–13
GenderBoys
Boarding fees£34.5k/yr (inc. meals)
AssociationsISC
Settingrural
LocationLocated in rural Oxfordshire between Abingdon and Radley; direct rail links to London facilitate occasional weekend travel for boarders.
EthosChristian

Contact & visit

Cothill, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Abingdon, Oxfordshire

OX13 6JL

01865390800
Mr George May, Headmaster

Nearest stations

Abingdon8 min
Radley5 min

Frequently asked questions

How do you get into Cothill House?

Cothill House admits pupils at 7+, 8+, 11+, 13+. Entry is assessed by Assessment Day, Interview. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.

Is Cothill House a boarding school?

Cothill House offers boarding as well as day places.

What is Cothill House's latest inspection rating?

ISI rated Cothill House “Excellent” (2023).

What parents say

Frequently praised

✓Strong pastoral care and duty of care within boarding environment

✓Excellent record of 13+ entry to leading senior schools

✓Tight-knit community ethos and sense of belonging for boarders

Common concerns

!Limited transparency available via website or recent public sources

!Small pupil cohort may limit breadth of social mixing and friendship options

!Unregistered status with Ofsted means recent compliance not independently verified