Buckingham, Buckinghamshire · MK18 5EH
Stowe School is one of England's most architecturally magnificent boarding schools, set in 750 acres of Grade I listed landscape gardens in Buckinghamshire. Founded in 1923 in the former home of the Dukes of Buckingham, the school cultivates an ethos centred on creativity, independent thinking, and the development of the whole person rather than purely academic performance. Stowe attracts pupils who might not thrive in more overtly pressurised environments, offering breadth alongside genuine academic ambition. Its pastoral warmth and extraordinary setting — complete with temples, lakes, and follies — create a campus unlike almost anywhere else in British education.
Who thrives here
Pupils who are curious, creative, and sociable — especially those who benefit from a nurturing boarding environment and want space to develop interests beyond pure academia. Stowe tends to attract those who want a rounded, enjoyable school experience alongside solid academic achievement.
Percentiles within UK independent + grammar schools we track.
Stowe
Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
MK18 5EH
Nearest stations
Richard Branson
Founder of Virgin Group
David Niven
Actor and author
George Melly
Jazz musician and critic
Roald Dahl
Author — attended Repton, not Stowe
Henry Eliot
Author and editor
Lord Quinton
Philosopher and academic
Day fees at Stowe School are approximately £41,955 per year (2024/25). Boarding fees are higher.
Stowe School admits pupils at 13+, 16+. Entry is assessed by Interview, Assessment. See the Admissions section above for open days and key dates.
At Stowe School, 19.9% of A-levels were graded A*–B and 38.6% of GCSEs were grade 7/A or above. Full results are in the Results section above.
Stowe School offers boarding as well as day places.
ISI rated Stowe School “Excellent” (2018).
Frequently praised
✓Exceptional pastoral care — housemasters and housemistresses are highly accessible and genuinely invested in individual pupils
✓The setting and facilities are genuinely unlike anywhere else; pupils feel fortunate and proud of their school
✓Strong tolerance of different learning styles and personalities; children who struggled elsewhere often flourish
✓Rich co-curricular life with real opportunities in music, drama, art, and sport for pupils of all abilities
Common concerns
!Academic results, while improving, lag behind comparably priced top boarding schools and some parents feel expectations could be higher
!Distance from major cities can feel isolating at weekends for some students
!The school's reputation for being 'the school for those who don't get into Eton' can be a source of sensitivity, though the culture has evolved significantly