Pinewood
School summary
A prep school with deep roots, Pinewood has been educating children in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire since 1875. It takes boys and girls from ages 3 to 13, with both day and boarding places, and remains intentionally small at around 404 pupils. That scale shows in a pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly 7 to 1, well below what most schools manage. The Independent Schools Inspectorate judged it excellent for both education quality and personal development, and found it fully compliant with regulatory standards.
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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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 25 November 2025
Teaching & academics
Small classes and close attention sit at the heart of how Pinewood works, with a ratio of about seven pupils per teacher giving children room to be known well. As a prep school, its focus is on preparing pupils for the move to senior school, and the breadth of scholarship routes - academic, drama, sport, art, music, all-rounder and performing arts - points to a programme that looks well beyond the core subjects. Around 18 per cent of pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a willingness to work with a range of learning needs.
Head · Neal Bailey
Beyond the classroom
The spread of scholarships across drama, music, art, sport and performing arts reflects a school where the wider curriculum carries real weight. Boarding adds another dimension, extending school life beyond the standard day for those families who choose it.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1875
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 17.82%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils are not allowed mobile phones at school
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £12,180 - £28,140
Means-tested bursaries and support in securing continued financial assistance at linked senior schools
Schools nearby
Aspris Ridgeway School
Swindon, South East
Maranatha Christian School
South West
Connex
Swindon, South West
Compass Community School Wheatley Park
Swindon, South West
St Hugh's School
Oxfordshire, South East
Cricklade Manor Prep
Swindon, South West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A long-established prep with very small classes and a clear path on to linked senior schools, suited to families wanting an attentive, all-round start for children up to 13.
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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Pinewood 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.