Cothill
Abingdon, Oxfordshire, South East · OX13 6JL
A small boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 8 to 13, Cothill keeps numbers deliberately low at around 160 pupils. Set in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, it offers a pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly four to one, among the most generous staffing levels a family is likely to find. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education quality and personal development, and found it fully compliant. It is a mobile-free environment, with boarders handing in phones on arrival and using landlines to stay in touch with home.
160
Pupils
excellent
ISI
£27,390
Day fees / yr
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Open in Google Maps ↗Overview & data
- Gender
- Mixed
- Type
- independent (fee-paying) school
- Age range
- 8-13
- Pupils
- 160
- Pupil:teacher ratio
- 4
- Location
- Abingdon, Oxfordshire, South East
- Website
- https://www.cothill.org.uk/
- Telephone
- 01865 390800
Headteacher
Head George May
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Teaching & academics
With teaching groups kept very small, Cothill is built around close attention to each child during the final years of prep school. The ISI judged the quality of pupils' achievement excellent. Nearly a quarter of pupils receive some form of SEN support, a notably high proportion that points to a school comfortable working with a range of learning needs.
Learning support & SEN
- SEN support
- 23.45%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Arts & extracurricular
Scholarships
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships span academic, music, art, drama, all-rounder and sport, suggesting genuine strength and recognition across the arts, the playing field and the classroom. As a boarding school for younger children, much of the wider enrichment is woven into daily life on site.
Ethos & heritage
- Boarding
- Yes
Mobile phone policy
Mobile phone free school. Boarders hand in phones on arrival. School has landline phones for boarding home contact.
Money matters
- Day fees (per year)
- £27,390
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £42,090
Means-tested bursaries available
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 10 February 2026
The last word
A small, phone-free prep with boarding and an excellent ISI report, suited to families who want close attention and a broad set of opportunities before senior school. Means-tested bursaries help widen access to fees that reach £42,090 for boarders.
The Passmate verdict
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Cothill 11+: frequently asked questions
Where is Cothill located?
Cothill is located at Cothill, Abingdon, Abingdon, OX13 6JL.
What type of school is Cothill?
Cothill is an independent (fee-paying) school in South East.
How many pupils attend Cothill?
Cothill has approximately 160 pupils on roll.
What is Cothill's inspection rating?
Cothill is inspected by the ISI and was judged "excellent" at its inspection on 10 February 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked June 2026.