An Introduction to Abingdon

Abingdon is a leading independent day and boarding school for children aged 11 to 18. Full and weekly boarding is available from age 13. Abingdon Prep School is a day school for children aged 4 to 13. The two schools together make up the Abingdon Foundation. Abingdon Senior School will admit girls to its First Year (Year 7) and Sixth Form (Year 12) from September 2026.

At Abingdon we aim to teach and develop the resources, skills and resilience that students need to feel confident in embracing their future. We encourage students to seize opportunities and to appreciate their responsibilities to each other and to society as a whole. The School promotes a culture of mutual respect and equality and we celebrate diversity.

Abingdon enjoys the very best in academic standards, music, sport and the arts in a caring and supportive environment where students are motivated to succeed. The health and wellbeing of our pupils is paramount and the School has a comprehensive pastoral care system centred around a pupil’s tutor and Head of House.

The School is situated in 35 acres of beautiful grounds in the centre of Abingdon, just south of Oxford. There are around 1176 students at Abingdon and approaching 200 pupils at the Prep School, which is based just a few miles away at Frilford.

In 2024:

We are one of only a few schools to have physical houserooms for both day pupils and boarders, so there is lots of space for students to be able to relax and unwind. Equally, we are proud of the fact that although we are a big school, the pastoral care breaks down into small units, with tutor groups of between 10 and 12 pupils per member of staff, so that every child is known and cared for.

The School combines over 750 years of history and tradition with a modern outlook. As well as encouraging academic achievement, with impressive results at GCSE, A Level and Oxbridge and university entrance, the School provides extensive extracurricular opportunities which broaden horizons, promote a global outlook and build the skills needed for the workplace. We encourage pupils to try something new, to develop existing talents and to ‘give something back’.

18

countries visited in a typical two years by students

44

countries represented at Abingdon School

Our aim is to ensure each individual thrives at Abingdon and, through challenge and opportunity, achieves the most from their potential. Our pupils come from a wide range of social and geographic backgrounds, creating a lively and tolerant mix of cultures and we welcome students of all faiths.

The majority of our students are day pupils although boarding plays an important part in the character of our School. In May 2024, Abingdon announced its decision to move to co-education.  We will be welcoming girls to our 1st Year and Sixth Form from September 2026; and to our 3rd Year from September 2028.

“There is a caring atmosphere throughout the school.”

ISI Inspection

Organisation

Abingdon is divided into the Lower School (aged 11-13), Middle School (aged 13-16) and Upper School or Sixth Form (aged 16-18). Pupils spend two years in Lower School, three years in Middle School and two years in the Sixth Form.

Entry to the Lower School is mainly from maintained primary schools and independent schools which finish at the age of eleven, while the Middle School intake is predominantly from preparatory schools. In the Sixth Form there is a further intake of students from the maintained and independent sectors.

The school day starts at 8.35am, lessons finish at 3.40pm and school buses depart at 5.20pm. Homework is set each day and the amount gradually increases as pupils move up the school. Wednesday afternoons, lunchtimes and 3.40pm to 5.20pm each day are devoted to ‘Other Half‘ activities – our extensive extracurricular programme.

Every pupil has their own individual timetable of work and activities which are supervised by their tutor.