St Hugh's School
School summary
A small independent prep school in Oxfordshire, St Hugh's takes pupils from age 3 to 13 and offers both day and boarding places. With around 340 pupils and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly seven to one, classes are intimate and individual attention is built into daily life. The Independent Schools Inspectorate judged the school excellent for both education quality and pupil personal development, and found it fully compliant with regulatory standards. An equestrian focus and a deliberately device-free environment give the school a distinctive character.
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
- 4 November 2025
Teaching & academics
The exceptionally low pupil-to-teacher ratio of about seven to one allows for close, responsive teaching, and the ISI's top rating for the quality of education reflects this. Nearly a fifth of pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a school used to adapting to a range of learning needs. Academic scholarships are available at 11+ entry alongside awards in music, art and drama.
Head · Mr David Griffiths
Beyond the classroom
Equestrian is the school's headline sport, with scholarships available for talented riders alongside awards in sport, music, drama and art. The no-device policy, with school-supplied technology only for work, points to a culture that prioritises hands-on activity and face-to-face interaction.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 19.57%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
No device school, which includes mobile phones. Devices required for school work are supplied in school.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £17,928 - £30,966
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £34,704 - £37,920
Schools nearby
Mulberry Bush School
Witney, South East
Cokethorpe School
Witney, South East
Abingdon Preparatory School
Abingdon, South East
Aspris Ridgeway School
Swindon, South East
Huckleberry Therapeutic School
South East
Cothill
Abingdon, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small, well-rated prep where tiny class sizes, boarding options and a horse-friendly, screen-free ethos set the tone. It suits families wanting close attention and an unusually distinctive co-curricular life.
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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St Hugh's School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.