Magdalen College School
School summary
Founded in 1480, Magdalen College School is a boys' independent day school in Oxford with a Christian character, taking pupils from the ages of 7 to 18. With 951 on roll and a notably low pupil-to-teacher ratio of around nine to one, it offers a closely supervised education led by Master Helen Pike. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school 'excellent' for both education and personal development, with all compliance standards met. A substantial sixth form of 321 pupils makes the upper school a significant part of the picture.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
94%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
80%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
94%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 10 October 2023
Teaching & academics
Results sit firmly at the top end: 94% of GCSE grades fall in the 9-7 range, and at A-level 80% of entries are graded A*-A, rising to 94% at A*-B. The curriculum is broad and academically ambitious, with mathematics, the sciences and humanities especially popular alongside languages including Latin, Classical Greek, Spanish and Chinese. Nearly a fifth of pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting individual needs are actively identified within a high-achieving environment.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Master · Ms Helen Pike
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 321
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is a visible part of school life, with football, cricket, hockey and rugby among the main offerings. Music holds a prominent place too, reflected in dedicated music scholarships and its strength as both a GCSE and A-level subject.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1480
- Religious character
- Christian
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 18.95%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Sixth form students permitted to use mobile phones in lessons with teacher permission or in sixth form centre. Years 7-11 may only use phones at teacher discretion. Photography/video forbidden without permission. No gaming or social media. Mobile phones and smart devices not permitted in junior school.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £27,750 - £28,812
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Means-tested bursaries available up to 100%
Schools nearby
Oxford International College
South East
Christ Church Cathedral School
Oxford, South East
New College School
Oxford, South East
Cherwell College Oxford
Oxford, South East
College of International Education
Oxford, South East
EF Academy Oxford
Oxford, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A historic Oxford school with genuinely strong results and the resources to match. Day fees approach £29,000, but means-tested bursaries of up to 100% and a range of scholarships widen the door.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Magdalen College School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.