Dragon School A GSG School
- Dragon School
Bardwell Road
Oxford
Oxfordshire
OX2 6SS - Head: Emma Goldsmith
- T 01865 315405
- F 01865 311664
- E admissions@dragonschool.org
- W www.dragonschool.org
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 4 to 13.
- Read about the best schools in Oxford and Oxfordshire
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Oxfordshire
- Pupils: 805
- Religion: Non-denominational
- Fees: Day £15,630 - £27,570; Boarding £41,100 pa (last updated on 05/08/2024)
- Open days: September
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Children are encouraged to support charity projects and green initiatives, with ‘Changemaker Champion’ assemblies in pre-prep. Then, in the middle years, there’s the Head’s Challenge, designing, building, and selling a product for charity. The legendary Christmas sale raises enough money to buy a small piece of real estate. A parent singled out the philanthropy: ‘At first I thought it was just a little mention aimed at the oligarchs, but they really mean it, the kids understand it and the Dragon promotes it’. Parents are...
What the school says...
Since 1877, Dragon School has cultivated kindness, courage, and respect in its young learners. Today, we’re an extraordinary co-ed day and boarding school in Oxford for children aged 4-13.
In terms of location, the Dragon enjoys the best of both worlds. Our nurturing pre-prep is in vibrant Summertown, and our North Oxford prep boasts expansive playing fields rolling down to the banks of the River Cherwell. In our classrooms, you’ll feel the energy, excitement and aspiration which define a Dragon education. And elsewhere around school – on the playing fields, in the boathouse, art studio, science labs or our homely boarding houses – you’ll get a sense of the strong relationships and the powerful ethos that binds our school community.
Our progressive outlook is built on a legacy of intellectual curiosity. The school was founded as the Oxford Preparatory School in the 19th century to educate the sons of Oxford University dons. The name was soon changed to Dragon School and it was run for many years by the Lynams, a family with progressive educational views. Today, the Dragon’s aims and ethos remains true to its founding tenets that school should be a place of inspiration, wonder and, above all, fun.
We’re proud of our history, but we refuse to stand still. The Dragon is proudly co-educational and inclusive, and our boarding and day pupils represent thirty different nationalities. Diversity cultivates a dynamic, cosmopolitan environment where young learners can feel proud of their unique qualities. This strong sense of self feeds our pupils’ energy and drive, and many move onto senior school with academic and specialist scholarships.
When you join the Dragon, you join a lifelong community. Our alumni have blazed so many trails across different walks of life, but they’re all hallmarked by the key Dragon values that we consistently talk about – kindness courage and respect. ...Read more
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Sports
Unusual sports
Polo
Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.
Rowing
Fencing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since 2021, Emma Goldsmith BA PGCE. Known as Ma Goldsmith, in the Dragon tradition. From a dynasty of four generations of teachers, and a degree in English from Manchester Uni, she caught the teaching bug on a gap year organising youth activities, so undertook a PGCE at Bath. Began teaching English at Oakham School, then Rugby, before housemistress then head of boarding then deputy head at Bloxham School and finally, top dog at Winchester House. In addition, found herself coaching netball, directing plays and taking DofE expeditions. Delighted to be taking the helm at the Dragon - ‘I feel I’ve found my tribe’ - and continues to teach Common Entrance English. Married to a maths teacher, lives locally and has four children.
As the first female head, treads in famous predecessors’...
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Special Education Needs
The learning support department offers assistance and support to children with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. The department works in close conjunction with subject and form teachers to ensure that support is provided when and where necessary, and within the context of the broader curriculum. The department is situated at the heart of the school with a central area and specially designed teaching rooms. All those who teach in the department have a qualification in teaching children with specific learning difficulties. Children are generally withdrawn for individual lessons once or twice a week but some group lessons also are provided. There are also speech and language therapists who support children with speech, language and social skills.
| 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 |
Y |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
Y |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
Y |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
Y |
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
Y |
| 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 |
Y |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
Y |
| 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 | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandlings Prep School | 2024 | 3 | |
| Garden House School | 2024 | 1 | |
| Kensington Wade | 2024 | 1 | |
| Kew Green Preparatory School | 2024 | 1 | |
| Milbourne Lodge School | 2024 | 1 | |
| Rupert House School | 2024 | 1 | |
| Wetherby School | 2024 | 1 |
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