Each year we welcome approximately 45 – 50 new pupils into the school to join those moving up from our Prep School. Candidates must have reached the age of 11 before 1st September in the year of entry. Exceptions are made only where there are strong reasons for believing that this is in the candidate’s best interests. Prior permission must be sought in advance from the Headmistress if a candidate is out of year.
Step 1: Visit Us
Our Open Events provide an opportunity for you to meet our Headmistress Mrs Marina Gardiner Legge and our dedicated staff and current pupils whether virtually or in person.
Visit our Admissions events page to register for an upcoming event.
Step 2: Apply
We recommend applying as early as possible in the year preceding entry using our online application form. All applications for entry to Year 7 should be submitted by Sunday 23 October 2022 when your daughter is in Year 6. Please check our Key Admissions Dates.
Overseas candidates should refer to the Key Admissions Dates for Overseas Applicants.
You will be asked to upload a current passport photo. There is a non-refundable registration fee of £100 (£150 for overseas applicants). If you are in receipt of income support then we are able to waive this fee, providing proof of income support is sent through. Please contact our Registrar (admissions@oxf.gdst.net or 01865 478 678) for further information.
Bursary Application
To apply for a bursary, you must tick the box on the initial registration form or let the Admissions team know in writing. Bursaries can only be awarded to candidates applying in the main application round; those who apply after the deadline in the autumn preceding the year of entry regrettably will not be eligible for a bursary. Applications for bursaries cannot be made to the Trust once offers have been made. If you have ticked the bursary box on the application form (or let one of the Admissions team know in writing), and you have applied before the deadline for the main entry rounds (see Key Admission Dates), you will be contacted once the Trust’s online bursary application portal is open in October. You will be provided with the log-in details required for you to complete the bursary application by the bursary application deadline, Sunday 30 October 2022.
All bursary applications are assessed independently by the Fees Office of the GDST and applications are means-tested, taking into account parental income and assets. In addition to satisfying the means-tested criteria, recipients of bursary awards must also score highly in our entrance assessments. GDST bursaries range from 30% to 100% of school fees; however, the amount of any bursary depends on individual circumstances, local demand and the funding available. Sometimes awards of a lesser value may be offered. Please visit our Bursaries page for details of this year’s bursary assessment criteria.
Step 3: Assessments
We are aware that during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, different pupils had different educational experiences. Our assessments and interviews are looking for potential. We look for how candidates apply their knowledge and understanding based on topics which would form a common core which we feel should have been covered by all.
Admissions Day
The Admissions Day for entry to Year 7 in September 2023 will take place on Friday 11 November 2022 at the Senior School. During the day, candidates will sit online assessments in Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, English, Maths, Creative Comprehension, and finally Puzzles and Problem Solving.
Interview
We invite every candidate who sat the entrance assessments to take part in an interview with the Headmistress, the Deputy Head or a member of the Senior Leadership Team. At the interview, we aim to put candidates at their ease whilst also challenging them. This approach enables us to identify whether a pupil will truly thrive here, academically and otherwise.
Academic and Head’s Scholarships
Academic Scholarships are awarded on merit on the basis of the entrance examinations and interview. There are no separate Academic or Head’s Scholarship examinations or interviews. Head’s Scholarships are awarded entirely at the Head’s discretion to outstanding candidates who have excelled during the admissions process. All candidates who have received Year 7 place offers will be considered for Academic and Head’s Scholarships.
Reference from Current School
We will contact a candidate’s current school for a reference. We are very mindful of the disruption many pupils have experienced due to school closures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and we will be asking the primary and prep schools to outline the educational provision available during the lockdown. We would like to reassure parents that we will be carefully considering how this has impacted each individual candidate to ensure that they will not be disadvantaged by the different levels of provision that different schools provided.
Step 4: Offers and Acceptance
Parents will be informed of the outcome of their daughter’s application on Friday 9 December 2022. Bursary awards, Academic and Head’s Scholarship and Exhibition awards will also be communicated to parents at this point. Scholarships and exhibitions are held for the duration of the time that your daughter is at Oxford High School, subject to satisfactory progress and behaviour.
Acceptance of Offers
The deadline for accepting offered places is Wednesday 1 March 2023. On the acceptance of a place, a deposit of £1,000 is payable, which the school retains until the end of the pupil’s final term in the school and which is refunded within 12 weeks of her leaving, less any sums owing to the Girls’ Day School Trust or the school at that time. The deposit is forfeited if the pupil does not take up the accepted place.
Step 5: Scholarship Application
Candidates in receipt of an offer for Year 7 also have the opportunity to apply for an Art, Drama, Music or Sport Scholarship (candidates can apply for up to 2 categories). We also offer Exhibitions in these categories. These Scholarships are held for the duration of the time that your daughter is at Oxford High School, subject to satisfactory progress and behaviour.
The Scholarship application deadline is Thursday 5 January 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in late January 2023, and the outcome will be communicated to you on Friday 10 February 2023. Please visit our Scholarships page for more information.
Step 6: Settling into Oxford High School
We believe it is crucial to ensure pupils settle quickly and happily into their new surroundings. We aim to send out all relevant information to new parents well in advance and, once your place has been confirmed as accepted, we will invite you to come along to events or concerts in school so you can meet your future classmates or fellow parents. Buddy systems and ‘New Pupils’ Day’ events are all part of the warm welcome you will enjoy when you join Oxford High School!
If you have further questions about the admissions process, please check out our FAQs page or contact us at admissions@oxf.gdst.net or 01865 478678.