New College School

New College School is the choir school for New College, Oxford, founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham alongside the college itself. It's a very small school — around 150 boys — occupying a beautiful site just off Holywell Street behind New College. The choristers sing in New College Chapel, one of Oxford's distinguished choral foundations. But the school also takes non-chorister boys, and the academic standard across the board is high. Boys leave at 13 for the major public and grammar schools.

What parents should know

The school's defining feature is its size. With only about 20 boys per year group, every child is known and the pastoral care is exceptionally close. Fees are approximately £16,000 per year (check the school's website for current figures), with significant reductions for choristers. The music programme is strong — even non-choristers benefit from the musical environment. Academically, the school punches above its weight, with boys regularly winning scholarships to Winchester, Eton, and MCS.

The small size cuts both ways. Friendship groups are limited, and if your son doesn't click with his year group, there aren't many alternatives. The facilities, while perfectly adequate, can't match the Dragon's or Summer Fields' sprawling campuses. Sport is played but this isn't a school where sporting prowess is the route to status. If your son is musical, bookish, or both, New College School is well worth considering. If he needs a bigger pond with more variety, look elsewhere.

The reputation

New College School is something of a hidden gem — many Oxford parents don't even know it exists. Those who do tend to be devoted to it. The school has a gentle, intellectual atmosphere that reflects its college connections. It's the least "prep school" of the Oxford preps — less emphasis on competitive sport, more on cultivation. The choral tradition is a defining feature, and attending Evensong at New College Chapel sung by the school choir is a distinctive experience.