Approximately sixty pupils live in each of its thirteen houses. The school is a member of the Rugby Group, the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and the Oxfordshire Independent and State School Partnership. Termly fees in 2024/2025 are £15,906 (+ VAT) for boarding and £12,725 (+ VAT) for day pupils.[2] The school is also affiliated to the Church of England.
The school teaches the GCSE, A Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) qualifications. The sixth form is split evenly between pupils studying A Levels and the IB Diploma.
History
St Edward's School, Oxford
The school was founded in 1863 by Thomas Chamberlain, student of Christ Church, Oxford, and vicar of St Thomas the Martyr's Church, Oxford. The school carries the name of St Edward the Martyr, King of England from 975 to 978. The original school building was Mackworth Hall, which at that time stood on New Inn Hall Street in central Oxford.[3]
In 1873, after a storm damaged the school buildings and in anticipation of growing numbers, A. B. Simeon, the first Warden, moved the school to Summertown. At the time, the site was on the boundary of Oxford and surrounded by farmland, and Simeon bought a large plot for the school. The school remains on that 100-acre (0.40 km2) site today, with the Quadrangle and playing fields on opposite sides of Woodstock Road.
Simeon created an independent school with monastic-style buildings around a quadrangle.[4] The original buildings were designed by William Wilkinson. The north range was built in 1873 and 1886, the gatehouse in 1879, and the east range, including Big School and the library, in 1881. Wilkinson's most significant building at St Edward's is the chapel, built in 1876.[5]
Henry Ewing Kendall was warden from 1925 to 1954.[6]
In the Second World War, air raid shelters were dug into the grass of the Quad. The school was presented with a stained glass window by the RAF at the end of the war in recognition of "the superb contribution to the war effort made by former pupils of the School".[citation needed] These included, among many others, Guy Gibson of 617 Squadron, who led 'The Dambusters', flying ace Douglas Bader, and Adrian Warburton, famous for his role in the defence of Malta.[7] Pacifist inclinations during the 1970s and 1980s caused the window to be relocated, before it was put back on display in the Old Library. The window has since been moved again and can now be seen on display in the warden's dining room. The school also has a scholarship fund to assist pupils whose parents are in the armed forces.
In 1982, the sixth form became co-educational.[citation needed] The whole school became fully co-educational in 1997.
Recent history
In 2016, the school announced a new building project to complete the school's main Quad. The new development, designed by architect Nick Hardy (TSH Architects) and completed in 2020, includes a purpose-built Library, a university-style academic centre,[clarification needed] and a new hall, with a capacity for 1,000 people.[8]
July 2007 marked the official opening of The North Wall Arts Centre. The centre was built on the site of the old school swimming pool, which was the oldest swimming pool in the country.[9][10][better source needed] The North Wall Arts Centre is run by Ria Parry and is a producing theatre.[11]
The North Wall Arts Centre won several major architectural awards for its design,[11] including a RIBA award.[12]
The Martyrs Pavilion, designed by architect John Pawson, was opened in 2009 and won the 2010 Oxford Preservation Trust award in the New Buildings category.[13]
Houses
There are 13 boarding houses lived in by approximately 60–70 boys or girls.[citation needed] Each house is run by a housemaster or housemistress, who is a member of the teaching staff at the school and lives in accommodation within the house with their family. Each house also has a set of house tutors who supervise prep (homework) during the week and also tutor members of the house. Each house also has a matron who looks after pupils' medical (and often social) needs.
The school has around 820 pupils, with about 130 of these being day pupils and the rest boarding.[citation needed]
Sport
The sports on offer for girls include rowing, cricket, hockey, football, netball and tennis, while the main sports offered for the boys include rowing, rugby, hockey, cricket, football and tennis. The school has over 90 acres (360,000 m2) of playing fields in North Oxford.[14]
In rowing the St Edward's School Boat Club has won The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta on five occasions, more than any other British school except Eton College and St Paul's School, London.[15] In 1984 the 1st VIII became the first ever crew to achieve the 'Triple', winning all three school events that year: The School's Head of the River; The Queen Mother Cup at the National Schools Regatta; and The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. In 2013 the boys 1st VIII boat rowed in the fastest Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup final ever seen at Henley, chasing the holders Abingdon School down to within half a length. Both crews beat the existing course record, having dispatched other leading international schools on the way to the final. In 2014, the boys 1st VIII were again the losing finalists. Having won Henley events eight times (including three years as winners of the now-discontinued Special Race for Schools), and been the losing finalist seven times,[15] St Edward's School is the one of the most successful boys' rowing schools. In 2023, St Edward's School became the first co-educational school to win Gold in Championship events for both boys' and girls' crews in the same National Schools' Regatta, winning the Jim Mason Plate for Girls Coxed Fours[16] (for the second time) and the Queen Mother Challenge Cup for Boys Eights[17] (for the fourth time). The school went on to win the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, for the fifth occasion. The school regularly provides rowers for Great Britain junior crews before going on to compete in the annual Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race or at Ivy League Universities.[citation needed]
St Edward's has seen several successful spells in hockey, which have included making the National Finals for both boys' and girls' hockey.[citation needed] The girls' hockey has been particularly strong and teams are frequently County Champions. In 2013/14 the school had both boys and girls in Regional, National and Great Britain squads. In 2010 the boys' hockey 1st XI won the inaugural Charlie Barker Trophy, a competition between local rival schools including Radley College, Eton College, Marlborough College, Abingdon School and Cheltenham College and finished the season unbeaten. Most recently, in 2018 the girls' U16 and U14 sides won their County tournaments with the 1st XI also progressing to the Regional tournament.
The 1st XV enjoyed a successful season in 2017, winning 10 matches and losing two, finishing 13th in The Daily Mail Trophy.[citation needed] 2017 was a good year for St Edward's further down the age-groups too, with the Junior Colts A (U15) and Junior Colts B XVs both recording seasons of 10 wins from 11 matches. In 2018, the 1st XV were crowned County Champions for Oxfordshire after beating Cokethorpe School in the final. There are some six former or present pupils in their respective age group's England development squads/teams including James Forrester.
The 2013 cricket season was one of the most successful in the School's history for the 1st XI.[citation needed] It included victories over Radley College, Harrow, Uppingham School and Cheltenham College. In 2017, the 1st XI began the season with a historic win over Oxford MCCU in University Parks, going on to achieve 18 victories in the season - the second highest ever - the team was also crowned South Central T20 Champions. Former pupil AJ Woodland was announced as the Wisden School's Cricketer of the Year for 2016 and other accolades for current pupils included selection for England U17s, an England U19s Invitational XI, and a variety of representational and county sides.
The school has many inter-house sporting events including the Steeplechase, and inter-house rowing, rugby, hockey, netball, squash, swimming and football, among others.[citation needed] The Steeplechase is the school's annual cross country race and is held once a year with the seniors running a 4-mile (6.4 km) race across Port Meadow, the floodplain of the River Thames.
Notable alumni
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(April 2012)
Gilman and St. Edward's operate a scholarship known as the Hardie Scholarship. One Lower Sixth boy from St. Edward's studies at Gilman during March/April and a Junior from Gilman studies at St. Edward's during June.
In 2004 St. Edward's established an exchange programme with Roland Park. The programme runs at the same time as the Harry Hardie Scholarship, with one lower sixth girl from St. Edward's studying at Roland Park and a Junior girl from Roland Park studying at St. Edward's.
King's traditionally play Teddies once every two years during their UK Rugby tour. Teddies played King's in Sydney for the first time in 2003.
Arms
The school received a grant of arms in December 2017.[31]
Coat of arms of St Edward's School, Oxford
Crest
Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Azure Issuant from a Cup Or a Dagger erect point downwards Argent hilt and pommel Or.
Escutcheon
Azure a Cross flory between four Ancient Crowns impaling Per fess Sable and Or a Pale counterchanged in the Or an Ermine Spot Sable and in the Sable a Trefoil slipped Or the whole within a Bordure also Or.
Motto
Pietas Parentum
Badge
Issuant from a Cup Or a Dagger erect downwards Argent hilt and pommel Or.
