Magdalen College School A GSG School
- Magdalen College School
Cowley Place
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX4 1DZ - Head: Ms Helen Pike
- T 01865 242191
- F 01865 240379
- E registrar@mcsoxford.org
- W www.mcsoxford.org
- A mainstream independent school for boys aged from 7 to 18, with girls in the sixth form
- Read about the best schools in Oxford and Oxfordshire
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Oxfordshire
- Pupils: 955; sixth formers: 321 (98 girls; 223 boys)
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: £22,236 - £23,085 pa (last updated on 04/06/2024)
- Open days: September, October, November, May and June
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
No call here for the gentle narratives of the Cambridge Latin Course, this was old school, verb learning, Kennedy’s Latin Primer territory – and the boys were loving it. Pretty impressive, especially since many of them only started to learn Latin when they arrived at MCS. Sixth form pupils undertake a personal research project known as Waynflete Studies – a bit like the EPQ but with extra added Oxford ...
What the school says...
MCS combines a superb and consistent academic record with outstanding pastoral care and numerous opportunities for a wide variety of extra-curricular activities in sport, music, art and drama. The dynamic staff are renowned for their commitment to helping pupils achieve success both in and out of the classroom. Emphatically a day school, with no Saturday school, MCS recognises its partnership with the family and is eager to maximise the formative influences of home life.
As an academically selective independent school, MCS retains its privileged position at the heart of one of Europes most beautiful cities and one of the worlds leading universities. It also has the good fortune of being able to share the facilities and resources of the university campus and city around it.
The introduction of girls to the Sixth Form has seen applications to join the school at 16 double. ...Read more
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Curricula
Cambridge Pre-U - an alternative to A levels, with all exams at the end of the two-year course.
Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Choir school - substantial scholarships and bursaries usually available for choristers.
Sports
Rowing
Fencing
Shooting
Sailing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Master
Since 2016, Helen Pike MA. Previously head of South Hampstead High. Born in Preston, state educated and was first in her family to go to university. After studying modern history at Christ Church, Oxford she looked set for an academic career, but teaching claimed her for its own while she was on a masters scholarship at Ann Arbor, University of Michigan. After a short stint lecturing at the University of Warwick she went first to Westminster School where she taught history, thence to City of London Boys (dep head of sixth form), St Paul’s where she was head of politics, and RGS Guildford (deputy head). That’s a high-octane progression through some of the country’s most academically demanding schools.
Credits ‘inspirational’ history and English A level teachers at her sixth form college...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
The School recognises that many pupils need extra help with particular aspects of their learning at some stage in their school career. SEN provision is co-ordinated by a Head of Learning Support, who oversees provision in the Senior and Junior schools. The learning support department is centrally placed, well-resourced and provides regular assessment and testing. The department provides one-to-one teaching sessions as necessary, and there is close communication between tutors, parents and teachers. MCS has a dedicated EAL co-ordinator to support pupils for whom English is an additional language, and we engage an independent Educational Psychologist to conduct assessments for pupils who require them. A high priority is placed on providing the best possible support for pupils with special educational needs, and thoughtfully devised Individual Education Plans are in place for all pupils on the Learning Support roll.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
|
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
|
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
|
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
|
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
|
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
|
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
|
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
|
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
|
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chandlings Prep School | 2024 | 1 | ||
| New College School | 2024 | 4 | 4 | 2 Academic Scholarships; 2 Music Scholarships |
| Summer Fields | 2024 | 1 | 1 | Academic Exhibition |
| The Manor Preparatory School | 2024 | 1 | 1 | Academic Exhibition Award |
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