Latest news
Empowering Success: Business Breakfast on Entrepreneurship and Living Legacies
Over 170 business representatives heard from entrepreneurs Levi Roots and Rachel Hicks at networking event. On Friday 7 March, over 170 professionals came together for the latest Cokethorpe Business Networking Breakfast, where guests ... Read more
Year 6 Hold Court at Tudor Palace
Year 6 embarked on an unforgettable trip to Hampton Court Palace, delving into the fascinating world of the Tudors. From re-enactments to workshops and exploring the palace grounds, the day was packed with exciting activities that ... Read more
A Well-Deserved Disco for Year 6
Year 6 pupils celebrated a well-earned break after completing their First Form entrance examinations with a fabulous disco. After all their hard work, it was time to let loose and have some fun with their friends. The evening kicked ... Read more
Prep Take First Steps on Career Path
The Prep School embarked on an inspiring exploration into the world of work during their inaugural Prep Careers Morning. Prep School parents, who are professionals from a variety of exciting industries, were kind enough to share their ... Read more
A Countdown to the Conundrum
The Shed was abuzz with excitement this week as crowds gathered lunchtimes to witness the much-anticipated House Countdown competition. The atmosphere was electric as the Houses battled it out in a series of intense 'number' and ... Read more
Hitting the Right Notes at Musician of the Year Final
The Musician of the Year competition is one of the many highlights of the musical calendar here at Cokethorpe. This year, we were honoured to welcome Mr Doug McIlwraith, Director of Music at Bedales School, to adjudicate our ... Read more
Corinthian Partnership Drama Day
On a vibrant and inspiring day, Year 4 pupils from Cokethorpe, Aston & Cote, Ducklington, and Combe Primary Schools gathered for the much-anticipated Corinthian Partnership Drama Day. The event was a celebration of creativity, ... Read more
Celebrating Excellence: The Optimum Awards
Each fortnight, at the Headmaster’s assembly, we celebrate academic excellence in the form of the Optimum Awards. Any pupil in the Senior School can be nominated for an Optimum by their subject teachers in recognition of academic work ... Read more
Uniform Donation
‘On behalf of Nyanga North Secondary School staff, students and community, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of school uniforms. Your contribution is nothing short of a game-changer for one of the most ... Read more
Year 1 Map Out an Adventure at The Leys
Year 1 have been exploring the world of maps, discovering their symbols, purpose, and how they help us navigate. As part of this exciting learning journey, they took their exploration one step further by venturing to The Leys in ... Read more
Treading the Boards
We spoke to brothers Xander (Fourth Form, Vanbrugh) and Oscar (Upper Sixth, Vanbrugh) about their recent experiences treading the boards on professional stages in Oxford. I hear you both have achieved success on the big stage this ... Read more
Language Skills Rocket with Onatti Theatre Visit
We were delighted to welcome the renowned Onatti Theatre Company back to School to perform a play in French for our Year 6 and First Form, supporting their learning of a modern foreign language. The play, Ticket pour l'espace, took ... Read more
Fun-Filled Fifth Form Social
To celebrate the end of the mock examinations, the Fifth Form pupils had an unforgettable night out in Oxford that was packed with excitement, delicious food, and some friendly rivalry. It was the perfect way to unwind and reward ... Read more
Research-Informed Approach
Academic Life at Cokethorpe - Head of Learning and Teaching, Miss Dodson outlines the School’s approach. Common parlance is ‘Teaching and Learning’, whilst we say, ‘Learning and Teaching’. Why the distinction? Our priority and ... Read more
Meet the School: Mr Pisanello
What do you do at the School? I am a Teacher of Mathematics, Lead in Computer Science and Head of Tennis. When did you join? I joined Cokethorpe part-time in April 2023 and full-time in September of the same year. What did you ... Read more
Music Matters
Music Matters: Shaun McHugh (OC 1976, Swift) on his days at Cokethorpe and giving back Can you share with us some of your memories of Cokethorpe? The word that comes to mind is adaptability. It was quite a different place in my ... Read more
Connecting Numbers to History in Enlightenment Lecture
An engaging and captivating Enlightenment Lecture was delivered by Sarah Hart, Professor of Geometry at Gresham College, entitled ‘Florence Nightingale and the Mathematics of Illness’, chaired by Henry (Upper Sixth, Harcourt). With ... Read more
Clowning Around with Chipping Norton Theatre
Theatrical specialists from Chipping Norton Theatre came to deliver a series of workshops for Cokethorpe First Form to learn from and enjoy. This lucky year group got to experience practical seminars on how to expand characterisation ... Read more
County Cross Country Championships
It was a busy month for County sport with Cokethorpe hosting the County Cross Country championships. Huge thanks go to Mr Richards and our Head Groundsman, Mr Hole, for their hard work in supporting the organisation of the ... Read more
From Drama Rehearsals to Oxford Interviews
Upper Sixth Form student, Oscar Luckett (Vanbrugh), takes us on his incredible journey from drama rehearsals to Oxford interviews, as he secures a place at Oxford University to study Philosophy and Theology. Balancing A-Level drama, ... Read more
A Moving Memorial of the Holocaust
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, the History Department partnered with the charity Generation2Generation, which works to facilitate the sharing of Holocaust survivors' family stories and preserve their legacies for future generations. ... Read more
Dr Sarah Squire announced as new Head from September 2025
Dr Sarah Squire has been announced as Cokethorpe’s eighth Head, and first Headmistress, joining the School in September 2025. Read more
Sixth Form Scholars Enjoy Elegant Evening at Formal Dinner
Last Friday evening, the Sixth Form Scholars gathered for their annual formal dinner, and what a night it was! This year’s theme, ‘scholarly endeavour,’ was the perfect excuse for everyone to dress up and engage in scholarly ... Read more
Workshopping Wellbeing and How Learning Happens
We were delighted to welcome over a hundred parents to our second workshop last week. Mrs Prior (Head of Lower House) presented on research-informed approaches to support and enhance wellbeing, drawing on the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ ... Read more
Cokethorpe Welcomes Future Educators
As a Microsoft Showcase School, Cokethorpe was recently contacted by students from the Busan National University of Education in South Korea. The teacher training university was keen to explore education in the UK, particularly at a ... Read more
Year 4 Explore Oxford’s Literary Legacy
On Thursday 23 January, Year 4 embarked on an exciting and enriching adventure to the Oxford Literature Walk, a journey through the heart of one of the world’s most iconic literary cities. Pupils had boundless energy and enthusiasm ... Read more
Cokethorpe First XV Triumph
On Wednesday 22 January, the First XV travelled to Devon for the annual Mount Kelly Rugby Tens tournament. After flying through a group including Truro School and Plymouth College, the semifinals loomed against the favourites, ... Read more
Back to Building Bikes
We are delighted to announce the eagerly anticipated return of the ‘Build-a-Bike’ AOB following the huge success of the last project, launched in June 2022. The new ‘James Comet’ motorcycle was generously donated to the School by Mr ... Read more
Celebrating Chinese New Year in Style
It was wonderful to welcome Dr Feng, mother to Vivi (Reception Class, Lockwood), to the Reception Class for a very special celebration of Chinese New Year. The children had an absolutely fabulous morning as they learned all about the ... Read more
From Cokethorpe to Published Author
We spoke to Katie Buckley (OC 2014, Harcourt) about the release of her first novel, Hero, and shared some memories of her time at Cokethorpe. Congratulations on the imminent release of your first novel. Can you tell us about ... Read more
Meet the School: Mr Tolput
What do you do at the School and when did you join? Hello! My name is Ed Tolputt and I am Head of Sixth Form; I joined the Cokethorpe staff in September 2020 (the calm between the storms…) and have not looked back. And what was it ... Read more
Ms Wynne Awarded MBE for Outstanding Contributions
We are delighted to congratulate Ms Wynne, Director of Development at Cokethorpe School, who has had her MBE conferred by King Charles for outstanding contributions to heritage, charity, and the Remember Me project at St Paul’s ... Read more
Meet the School: Mrs Fuchs
Name Mrs Caroline Fuchs; a lot of the children call me ‘Mrs Madame Fuchs’. What do you do at the School? I teach all Prep School pupils four languages. Depending on which year the pupils are in, they learn French, Italian, German ... Read more
Marching into the Lent Term with Epiphany Celebration
The Lent Term began with a firm favourite in the Prep School calendar, the annual gathering in the Dining Hall to celebrate ‘La Fête des Rois’, a French celebration of Epiphany. It was an event that brings French culture to life at ... Read more
Calla Highly Commended for Climate Change Essay
We are thrilled to announce that Calla (Upper Sixth, Feilden) has been awarded the 'Highly Commended' prize in the prestigious Royal Geographical Society essay writing competition for 2024. She will be presented with the award in ... Read more
Pantomime Worth Every Magic Bean
On Wednesday 11 December, all the pupils in the Prep School had an afternoon to remember as they set off on an adventure to the Chipping Norton Theatre to watch Jack and the Beanstalk – Oh, yes they did! The show was not your average ... Read more
Shining A Light at Christingle
The Prep School’s Christingle Service was an absolute joy. The service, which centres around the Christingle - meaning ‘Christ Candle’ in Germanic traditions - celebrated Jesus Christ as the ‘Light of the World’ in the most ... Read more
The Box of Delights
This term saw a new and exciting artistic direction for Cokethorpe Drama, marked by the blazing production values and mesmerising performance skills on display in The Box of Delights. Based on John Masefield’s 1935 novel, this ... Read more
Visit to Rosebank Care Home
On Monday, 8 December, Ella (Fifth Form, Vanbrugh), one of our talented violinists visited Rosebank to play to some of the residents of the Care Home. The visit was due to a request by the caregivers of one resident with dementia, who ... Read more
Yuletide Joy at Christmas Fair
The CPFA Christmas Fair was in full festive swing, and it was a merry sight to behold! The Catering Department had all the winter treats covered, offering delicious food options and warming winter drinks to keep everyone cosy while ... Read more
Big Performances in Little Nativity
On Friday 6 December, the Corinthian Room was magically transformed into a stage of wonder and joy as our Pre-Prep pupils took the spotlight for the much-anticipated annual Nativity performance, The Big Little Nativity. With a ... Read more
Sixth Form Festive Fancy Dress Dinner
The Sixth Form annual Christmas Dinner was a night packed full of Christmas camaraderie. This year, the theme was ‘Hollywood’ and students arrived in the customary fancy dress inspired by iconic films. From the hilarious duo of Dumb ... Read more
Christmas Carol Services
St Mary’s Church was awash with angelic and beautiful music last Monday and Tuesday as Cokethorpe celebrated its two Christmas Carol Services. The Senior and Prep Chamber Choirs were on stunning form, with both congregations being ... Read more
I’d Do Anything to Watch Oliver!
Pupils in Years 3, 4, and 5 put on a performance of Oliver Twist that left the audience utterly spellbound. These young actors brought Charles Dickens’ classic tale to life in a way that was nothing short of extraordinary. Each ... Read more
The Wonderful World of Music at Cokethorpe
What does Bach (the GOAT - says our Director of Music, and he ought to know!) have in common with jazz legend Sonny Rollins? Or Tchaikovsky (he of the awesome arabesques) with ‘60s Geordie rockers The Animals? On paper, perhaps, ... Read more
Ascending New Heights in Enlightenment Lecture
Sixth Form students were joined by our Third Form Scholars for the latest Enlightenment Lecture, delivered by expert climber and explorer, Stuart McAleese. Pupils were transported away from the lightly snow-dusted grounds of ... Read more
Industry Insights at Careers Fair
Pupils from Third to Fifth Form gathered for an exciting and informative Careers Fair held here at Cokethorpe. The event brought together an impressive seventeen companies, showcasing a variety of industries and offering valuable ... Read more
Sparks Fly at CPFA Fireworks Night
The CPFA Fireworks Extravaganza certainly lived up to its name, as over 1,200 visitors descended on the Cokethorpe site to enjoy a night of explosive fun. Friends and families huddled together warming themselves with mulled wine and ... Read more
A Hive of Literary Love
At the heart of our School’s dedication to nurturing a love for reading, First Form pupils have once again embraced the excitement of the Book Trust’s national Bookbuzz scheme - an initiative designed to ignite a passion for books in ... Read more
Mural by Brush at Mulberry Bush
Our Art Award Holders were given a brief by Jess Hooper, Head Teacher at the Mulberry Bush School, to create an interesting, calm mural in their School’s education area on the theme of local rivers. Pupils researched local flora and ... Read more
Digging up the Past in Pompeii
A group of Senior School Classicists embarked on an Italian adventure during the half term, which began with a guided tour of Naples. Pupils had the opportunity to explore the incredible treasures at the Naples Archaeological Museum, ... Read more
A Surreal Trip to Barcelona
During the October half term, Fifth Form and Upper Sixth Art and Textiles pupils embarked on an unforgettable artistic adventure to Barcelona, the heart of Spanish surrealism and creativity. Their journey began at the Museum D'Art ... Read more
Exploring the Wonders of China
During the half term break, Fifth and Sixth Form pupils embarked on an unforgettable adventure to China, exploring the country's rich history over eight action-packed days. In Beijing, they marvelled at iconic modern landmarks like ... Read more
Passing the Baton: the annual Crawford Relay
The Crawford Relay was a whirlwind of excitement, energy, and friendly rivalry. As the Houses lined up, each determined to bring home the victory, the air was electric with anticipation, and the sound of cheering filled the School ... Read more
Harvesting Community Spirit
Parents were invited to watch the Pre-Prep perform their heart-warming Harvest Festival: the perfect blend of fun, learning, and giving back. Reception Class kicked things off with a charming retelling of the classic story of The ... Read more
Swift House Sing their way to Success
The Senior School were in good voice as each House took to the stage to sing their hearts out in the much-loved annual House Singing Competition. The six Houses each performed their choice of song, with enthusiasm and aplomb. ... Read more
The Stage was Set for Devised Drama
Our talented GCSE and A Level dramatists took to the stage to present their devised work to live audiences. First up were our Fifth Form GCSE Drama candidates who created their own, original pieces of theatre using various drama ... Read more
Maths Lessons you can Count on
Following the success of last year’s event, we were delighted to once again welcome parents to Prep School for a ‘Learn Together’ Maths session. Parents were invited to join their children, from Reception Class through to Year 6, for ... Read more
Topical Visit to Tropical Rainforest
Our Year 4 pupils had an unforgettable adventure at the Living Rainforest in Newbury. The excitement was palpable as they stepped into the lush, vibrant environment, feeling as if they had been transported to a real rainforest. The ... Read more
Year 5 Learning through Living
Year 5 had an incredible journey back in time during their visit to The Living Museum. Pupils delved into the Victorian era, experiencing first-hand what life was like in a village school of that time. They dressed in period costumes, ... Read more
Reshaping the Landscape
As part of their A Level studies on urban regeneration, Upper Sixth Geography students enjoyed a fascinating trip to the Olympic Park in East London to learn about its sustainability and legacy plan. During the trip, the tour guides ... Read more
First Form Visit Home of the Codebreakers
First Form pupils got their first experience of a Senior School trip on the annual Maths and Computer Science Trip to Bletchley Park. Pupils participated in a variety of exciting activities, from having a tour of the Bletchley site, ... Read more
A Welcome Visit from China
We were delighted to welcome eleven pupils from Hangzhou Foreign Language School, located in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang in China, for a week-long cultural visit to Cokethorpe School. Six visiting pupils settled into the Prep ... Read more
The Brothers Luckett: coming to theatres near you!
We are delighted to announce that two of our most talented thespians will be performing on professional stages later in the year. Brothers Oscar (Upper Sixth, Vanbrugh) and Xander (Fourth Form, Vanbrugh) will both be performing at ... Read more
History is Written by the Victor
We are thrilled to share with you that Third Form pupil, Freya (Queen Anne) has won ‘best story’ in a prestigious national ‘Write your own Historical Fiction’ competition run by the Historical Association. Freya wrote a piece ... Read more
Celebrating the power of partnership at Business Breakfast
On Friday 20 September, more than 140 representatives from local businesses attended our latest Business Community networking breakfast. The event, centred around the theme of ‘Leadership and the Power of Partnership’, featured two ... Read more
An Epic Odyssey at Classical Greek Conference
The Classics Department was delighted to host the annual Oxford and Bucks Classical Association Greek Conference. More than eighty pupils and teachers from a range of schools enjoyed three lectures from The University of Oxford ... Read more
RAG Week
From Netball to Nerf Guns, Target Football to Twister, and Sponge the Teacher to Splat the Rat, the whole School RAG Week was packed full of fun and philanthropy. The RAG (Raising and Giving) week was organised by our five Sixth ... Read more
Expanding Minds: The Enlightenment Lecture Programme
The Enlightenment Lecture programme kicked off the academic year in fine form, beginning with a fantastic and informative talk by Professor Magda Osman, presented by our Head of School, Nancy (Upper Sixth, Swift). Professor Osman’s ... Read more
Exploring Roman Britain
As part of their Roman topic in History lessons, Year 3 visited the Corinium Museum in Cirencester and were able to see some of the incredible finds from the Roman town of Corinium - now Cirencester. One of the first interesting facts ... Read more
Start of Year Concert Hitting the Right Notes
It took no small amount of courage for pupils to perform in the Start of Year Concert on Thursday 12 September, as most had not had a lesson for over two months. However, the parents, pupils and staff that gathered in the Corinthian ... Read more
The Corinthian Challenge
Wednesday 11 September saw the second annual Corinthian Challenge, a cross-country race around our glorious grounds here at Cokethorpe. The First and Second Form ran a 2.2km race, the Third and Fourth Form covered 3.5km and the Fifth ... Read more
First Form Camp
Our marvellous new First Form pupils arrived at the annual First Form Camp with both apprehension and excitement. They soon relaxed as they regrouped with the peers they had met on Moving Up Day and there was a buzz of chatter in the ... Read more
Results Day 2024
As we bid farewell to the Class of 2023 following the receipt of their final results today, warm and hearty congratulations are in order, with 27 percent of all grades awarded an A* or A grade and ten percent of all results awarded at ... Read more
Trip to Cotswold Farm Park
Reception Class children got up close and personal with some farmyard friends on their trip to Cotswold Farm Park. The day began with helpful hands feeding the goats and sheep, followed by bottle-feeding hungry lambs and kids. Once ... Read more
Putting Paddles into Practice
On the most splendid summer day so far this year, the Second Form took to the water, paddles in hand, for a trip to remember. After designing and making their paddles in Design and Technology lessons, they had the opportunity to test ... Read more
Prep School ‘Go For It’ at Sports Day
There was excitement in the air as the four Prep Houses vied for the coveted title of 2024 Sports Day Champions. The event kicked off with the Pre-Prep races, where our youngest athletes showed their determination and talent. The ... Read more
The 39 Steps – A Masterclass in Comedy
Exploding into The Shed in a riot of ludicrous slapstick and silliness, the latest venture from Cokethorpe Drama was a roaring success. Drawing on the classic John Buchan tale of spies, intrigue and assassination, this production had ... Read more
A Trip Down Memory Lane at Reunion Dinner
The OC Reunion last Saturday saw a delightful gathering, full of nostalgic moments and heartfelt connections. Alumni from across the generations came together to talk about their school days, share updates on their families and ... Read more
Food for Thought for Year 6 at ‘Wildfarmed’
The current Year 6 cohort are piloting a new initiative entitled ‘the Prep Portfolio’ which aims to help prepare pupils for Senior School and beyond by fostering a greater sense of responsibility and independence. Pupils are ... Read more
Forging Friendships on French Exchange
Friendships were forged for our Fourth Form linguists on their fantastic French exchange. Earlier in the year, our exchange pupils were paired with their Francophone counterparts from Saint Louis, Sainte Marie, a school in Marignane, ... Read more
Pupils Cast Their Votes
The hustings are over, the votes have been cast, and Cokethorpe has decided the outcome of our mock General Election. Congratulations to our Lower Sixth Politics students who acted as candidates, and to their wider campaign teams, ... Read more
Music Award Holders Magical at Concert
The Music Award Holders’ Concert was a wonderful occasion, showcasing the talents of our incredible musicians. From the First Form to the Sixth Form, pupils from across the Senior School came together to perform on a range of ... Read more
Second Form Devised Drama
The entire Second Form took to the stage to perform their devised pieces of Drama to a full house in The Shed. Mastering Physical Theatre and Masked performance, every class provided a unique and original response to the topic of ... Read more
Year 6 Residential
As a finale to their time at the Prep School, Year 6 embarked on a residential trip to the Isle of Wight, taking part in a week-long programme designed to nurture resilience, teamwork, and a spirit of adventure. Their journey began ... Read more
Learning About Life in the Roman Legions
First Form pupils travelled to the British Museum in London with the Classics Department to explore the incredible collections of antiquities on display. The focus of the visit was for our young Classicists to view the exciting new ... Read more
Inaugural Business Event Abuzz with Opportunities
Cokethorpe School welcomes 100 guests for its first business event. The Cokethorpe Business Breakfast on Friday 10 May saw 100 representatives of local businesses welcomed to the School for the inaugural Cokethorpe Business ... Read more
The Final Countdown to Prep House Singing
After weeks of rehearsals, the four Prep School Houses shone on the stage in the Prep House Singing Competition. Each House chose a song related to the theme, ‘Reach for the Stars’, and their choices were out of this world. With ... Read more
The Magic of Matilda
The classic Roald Dahl tale of Matilda was spectacularly brought to life in the Summer Term production of Matilda the Musical JR. It tells the tale of Matilda, the clever, teased, book-worm played by the talented Lottie (Second Form, ... Read more
Double win at Society of Heads National Final
Society of Heads Football Final Highlights from Cokethorpe School on Vimeo. What an electrifying day of football action we had at the Society of Heads National Football final last week Wednesday, as Cokethorpe School's U16 and ... Read more
A Cultural Adventure in Barcelona
Third and Fourth Form pupils studying Spanish recently embarked on a cultural adventure to Barcelona, where they explored this fabulous city steeped in culture whilst honing their linguistic skills learnt in the classroom. First ... Read more
Scholars’ Dinner Honours Academic Achievements
This year’s Scholar’s Dinner was, as always, a delightful event where our Scholars and their parents had the opportunity to convene as an erudite community for a night of great conversation and fabulous food. It also marked the ... Read more
Great Attitude at Altitude on Ski Trip
During the Easter holidays, a group of very excited pupils from the Prep School and First Form embarked on the inaugural Prep School Ski Trip to the snow-covered resort of Marilleva, in Italy. Having arrived at the resort and ... Read more
Second Form Enjoy a Classical Education
Second Form pupils had a day at School like no other, as they travelled back in time to learn what it was like to be a school pupil in the ancient world. On arrival, pupils found that The Shed had been transformed into a ... Read more
A Chemistry Olympiad
Sixth Form Chemistry students took part in this year’s Royal Society of Chemistry’s Olympiad. This was an exceptionally challenging paper, with over 1,000 schools taking part. The 2024 paper covered topics such as the composition of ... Read more
Eddie the Eagle Soars into Charity Dinner
We were delighted to welcome British ski-jumping legend ‘Eddie the Eagle’ to Cokethorpe’s 2024 Charity Dinner, organised by Upper Sixth student, Alice (Swift), to raise money for Helen & Douglas House, the local children's ... Read more
Experts on Ecology and Ecosystems
As part of the ecology topic of their A Level course, Lower Sixth biologists travelled to Preston Monfort Field Work Centre to put what they have been learning in the classroom into practice. The group were there to investigate ... Read more
Prep School Sponsored Walk
The annual Prep School Sponsored Walk is always a popular event in the Prep calendar, and this year was no exception. Emulating the route taken around London during the Marathon, pupils looked for the landmarks of London as they ... Read more
Cokethorpe’s Plans for a Brighter Future
On Tuesday 26 March, the Governors, Headmaster, Senior Management Team, and Development Department were delighted to welcome members of the wider Cokethorpe community to a special Governors Reception event. Over 75 guests were invited ... Read more
Symphony of Song at the Spring Concert
The Spring Concert was a wonderful evening of music which saw musicians from the Prep School through to the Upper Sixth come together to share their talents with parents, staff, and their peers. Several ensembles performed throughout ... Read more
Pastoral Care: the foundation of the school environment
Cokethorpe prides itself on the strength of the pastoral care system. Mr Stevens, Deputy Headmaster, discusses what makes the system so effective. What are the core elements of our pastoral care? There are two factors at the heart ... Read more
Powerful Performance at Public Speaking
The Cokethorpe Public Speaking Team put in a performance to be proud of at the English Speaking Union's regional final. The team, comprising Evie (Fourth Form, Swift), Eylül (Third Form, Swift), and Sofia (Third Form, Feilden), ... Read more
The Rest is Politics
Sixth Form Politics students heard a packed and exciting programme of talks at the PolEcon Conference in Westminster. A Level students heard from voices across the political spectrum touching on many of the important issues and ... Read more
Drama Taking Centre Stage
GCSE and A-Level Drama pupils took centre stage showcasing their exceptional talent, presenting their examination ‘Performance from Text’ pieces in front of a live audience and visiting examiner, in their respective year groups, over ... Read more
Sharing Expertise at Microsoft Showcase Day
We were delighted to welcome 40 visitors from various schools across the country for our annual Showcase Day, as part of our status as a Microsoft Showcase School. Delegates travelled from as far as Surrey and Hull to hear from ... Read more
A Glorious Gig Night
Our talented musicians were out in force for another sensational night of music at the latest Gig Night. Pupils from the First Form to the Upper Sixth took to the stage to showcase their talents, performing everything from jazz ... Read more
Heads of Houses
Heads of Houses, Matthew, Bella, and Freddie, discuss their experience of the House system at Cokethorpe. Talk to us about the House system – how did it support you as you went through the School? BC – As soon as you join the Senior ... Read more
World Book Day Wonders
The Prep School celebrate and enjoy wonderful children's books every day of the year, but especially so on World Book Day. This year, pupils were challenged to dress up as a character that they either aspire to be or with whom they ... Read more
Taking Stock on the Castle Trip
As part of their history topic on medieval castles, children in Years 1 and 2 visited Oxford Castle and Prison to experience what life would have been like inside a castle in medieval times. They thoroughly enjoyed ascending the ... Read more
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
In a magical blend of mischief and enchantment, the Year 6 pupils brought William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to life in a wonderful performance. The intricate web of love, mistaken identity, and fairy mischief unfolded ... Read more
The Battlefields in Belgium
Third Form pupils embarked on an emotive and poignant visit to the First World War battlefields in Belgium. As they crossed into Belgium, pupils were reminded that the journey they were completing would have been the same route ... Read more
Year 6 Hold Court at Hampton
Year 6 have recently been studying the Tudors and the English Reformation. To find out more about Tudor life and the marriages and Court of King Henry VIII, they visited Hampton Court Palace. Upon arrival through the King’s Gate, ... Read more
Story Museum Trip was Out of This World
The children in Reception Class and Year 1 spent a wonderful morning exploring The Story Museum in Oxford. The day began with our budding bookworms reaching for the stars in a space-themed storytelling workshop. The children entered ... Read more
Sixth Form Inter-House General Knowledge Competition
The Sixth Form Inter-House General Knowledge Competition is always fiercely fought and feistily contested, and this year was no exception. Spread over three lunchtimes, the format was the same as University Challenge - including ... Read more
Countdown to the Conundrum
There were anagrams and puzzles aplenty, as pupils faced off in the annual House Countdown competition. The first heat saw Queen Anne take an early lead, and, despite Feilden and Harcourt narrowing the gap, Queen Anne maintained their ... Read more
Inspiring a Love of Languages
Head of School, Dee (Upper Sixth, Gascoigne), and Head of Harcourt, Tara (Upper Sixth, Harcourt), shared their passion for languages with pupils across the School in the first student-led Modern Foreign Languages Day. They organised ... Read more
Football, Fans and the FA Cups
It was a wonderful day for Cokethorpe as we welcomed women's football legend, Claire Rafferty, alongside our sports equipment partners, Sports Directory and Team Mitre, to the School. Claire not only brought her wealth of sporting ... Read more
Year 6 Don’t Miss a Beat
It was Ms James’ privilege to organise a disco for the deserving and hardworking Year 6 pupils following their First Form Entrance Assessments. The festivities began with a splendid supper in the Dining Hall. Then, with glow sticks ... Read more
Beginners’ Luck on the Slopes
In preparation for the inaugural Prep School ski trip at Easter, Mrs Hammond took an enthusiastic group of beginner skiers to Milton Keyne’s indoor Snozone for their first lesson on snow. The introduction to skiing first had ... Read more
Policing Politics
The Politics Department were delighted to welcome Matthew Barber (OC, 1999, Harcourt), the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley and former Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council to the School to speak to ... Read more
Holocaust Memorial Day
Holocaust Memorial Day falls on 27 January – the day on which Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated. This year, the theme was the ‘fragility of freedom’, and the History Department prepared and delivered a series of age-appropriate talks ... Read more
First Form ‘Raven’ About Tower of London Visit
First Form pupils delved into the past on their recent visit to the historic Tower of London as part of their studies on the Norman Conquest. They relished the opportunity to explore the medieval White Tower, which was originally ... Read more
A Powerful Performance of The Persians
Greek and Classical Civilisation pupils enjoyed a festival of ancient drama held at Warwick University. The day included a powerful performance of The Persians by Aeschylus, the earliest surviving Greek tragedy and the only one to ... Read more
Oxfordshire County School Cross Country
A group of 27 pupils from the Prep and Senior School competed in the Oxfordshire County School Cross Country event held at Radley College. The races ranged from 2.2km for the minor boys and girls to the challenging 6.2km for the ... Read more
Cokethorpe’s new Climbing Tower
Thanks to the wonderful generosity of an anonymous donor, during the latter part of last year, we were able to break ground on the final phase of The Greaves Outdoor Centre, Cokethorpe’s new Climbing Tower project. This stunning ... Read more
A Masterclass in Culture at Scholars’ Formal
The annual Sixth Form Scholars’ Formal was a glorious occasion, celebrating their achievements and contributions. The evening began with a welcome drink in the Dining Hall; as students, parents, and the staff invited by the Upper ... Read more
Outreach at Cokethorpe
Dr Flaherty, Assistant Director of Studies (Outreach), talks to Mr Griffiths, Head of Marketing, about Outreach at Cokethorpe. What do we mean by ‘Outreach’ and how do we go about it? There are a couple of components. A ... Read more
Brushing up on Art Skills
The Prep School Art Room was awash with colour and creativity as we welcomed pupils from Aston and Cote Primary School, one of our Corinthian Partnership Schools, to the Prep School for a fabulous art workshop. Armed with ... Read more
Crucial Collaboration in Chemistry Competition
The Royal Society of Chemistry's annual ‘Top of the Bench’ chemistry competition, challenges teams to take part in a series of practical activities, using lab techniques beyond the curriculum, to problem-solve and hone their chemistry ... Read more
The Fifth Form Common Room Departs, ‘All Aboard!’
Michaelmas Term 2023 ended in a flurry of festive joy. However, the year sadly did not end so well for the Fifth Form Common Room. Following the tumultuous events of the Christmas break for the Fifth Form pupils' home from home, some ... Read more
A Wonderful skiing trip in the Alps
As the rest of the School packed up for the Christmas break, a group of sixty pupils from Second Form to Lower Sixth were busy packing their salopettes and skis, preparing to travel to Val Cenis for a thrilling skiing trip in the ... Read more
Finding a Fève – La Fête des Rois
La Fête des Rois is always a popular feature of the Prep School calendar and a welcome start to the Lent Term for staff and pupils alike. The festive French-style celebration of Epiphany sees pupils excitedly watch as the galette is ... Read more
Alumni Christmas Drinks
St Edmund Hall, Oxford once again played generous host to the Christmas Drinks gathering for the School’s most recent Upper Sixth leavers in the company of Mr Tolputt and Mr Gale. Returning home to Oxfordshire from their first term ... Read more
Sixth Form Christmas Dinner
The Sixth Form and staff had an evening to remember at the eagerly anticipated Sixth Form Christmas Dinner. The festivities were energetic, exuberant, and all in good spirit, with all the traditional Christmas Dinner trimmings in tow. ... Read more
Bringing the Christmas Spirit to the Stage – A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens’ timeless tale was spectacularly brought to life in the Senior School production of A Christmas Carol. With stunning performances from all the cast, the audience were transported to the bitter streets of Victorian ... Read more
Shining a Light at Christingle
With the beautiful backdrop of the Chapel, the Prep School gathered together for a magical and somewhat moving Christingle Service. Christingle (Christ Angel) is related to a word of Germanic origin, Christkindl, meaning ‘Christ ... Read more
CPFA Christmas Fair
Whether it was gifts, stocking fillers or some delicious festive treats you were looking for, there was something for everyone at this year’s CPFA Christmas Fair. With over 30 artisan stalls selling everything from bespoke jewellery ... Read more
Pre-Prep Twinkly Nativity
Pre-Prep sparkled once more, with two performances of their fabulous nativity. The Twinkly Nativity was a heart-warming performance which celebrated the true meaning of Christmas. The children brought the timeless nativity story to ... Read more
Preaching to the Choir
Over two nights, the Senior School visited St Mary’s Church, Witney, alongside parents and family, to attend Cokethorpe’s Services of Lessons and Carols. On each evening, the music was provided by the School Choir, totalling almost ... Read more
Jingling All the Way to the Christmas Concert
The Christmas Concert was a magical box of delights as the audience were treated to a selection of festive treats by ensembles and soloists from both Prep and Senior pupils who arrived at the Chapel suitably attired in Christmas ... Read more
A Moving Trip to Berlin for History Pupils
Fourth and Fifth Form History pupils visited Berlin for an illuminating and informative, albeit emotive, trip to Berlin. On arrival, pupils embarked on a walking tour of the historic centre of Berlin, including stops at the ... Read more
Chemistry Conference was Out of this World
The Oxfordshire Youth Chemistry Conference, held at Wychwood School, had the topical theme this year of ‘Out of this World – how chemistry contributes to space exploration’. The conference aims to inspire and showcase excellence in ... Read more
A Packed Concert for St Cecilia
It is just as well that Cokethorpe’s Dining Hall does not have rafters, with a programme and an audience that were packed well beyond where rafters might have been for the eagerly anticipated St Cecilia Concert. Sat amidst the ... Read more
Parents Give a Big Hand for Little Red Riding Hood
Years 3, 4 and 5 stepped into the enchanting world of Roald Dahl with a fresh take on the classic fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. The pupils delivered an outstanding performance with a mixture of wit, humour and ... Read more
Enlightening Exhibition from Scholars
The annual Scholars’ Exhibition provides an invaluable opportunity for our Scholars to flex their cognitive muscles and showcase the fruits of their labour. Twenty-three Scholars from the First Form to the Lower Sixth presented their ... Read more
Prep Quiz was a Turn Up for the Books
It was pens at the ready and thinking caps on for our Prep School pupils as they were put through their paces in an inter-house Literature quiz. Teams of four, led by their House captains, along with pupils from each year group from ... Read more
Year 3 Fossil Hunters
Our Year 3 pupils rocked their role as palaeontologists on their recent visit to the Museum of Natural History in Oxford. As part of their studies on ‘Earth’ and ‘Rocks’ in their Science and Geography topics, our trainee fossil ... Read more
Fireworks Extravaganza
Over 1,500 visitors gathered around the Mansion House for an explosive night of fireworks organised by our wonderful CPFA. The roaring bonfire was quite the spectacle as it blazed away on the field. Visitors, young and old, embraced ... Read more
Pre-Prep Putting Out Fires
The Reception Class and Year 1 children were all fired up as they welcomed firefighters from Witney Fire Service into School to find out all about what they do. The highlight of the visit was seeing the fire truck, which was parked at ... Read more
Ava on par
Congratulations to Ava (Second Form, Vanbrugh) for her success in recent Golf competitions. Ava won both the Nicola Sparks Memorial Trophy 2023 and the Midlands South County Championship 2023. Read more
Cinderella Panto
Never too old for Panto, all classes of the Prep School, from Reception Class to Year 6, thoroughly enjoyed going to see Cinderella at the Chipping Norton theatre. Set in the rainforest, the familiar story had a Latin American twist. ... Read more
Creativity Inspired in Cornwall
A Level Fine Art and Textiles students visited Cornwall to gather visual research for the coursework theme of ‘Environment’. The first stop was The Eden Project, where the colourful plant life was the subject of their first sketches ... Read more
A Fight to the Finish Line
As the bell struck to mark the beginning of the annual Crawford Relay, there ensued an eruption of noise from the crowd and an explosion of speed from the competitors. Vanburgh flew out of the gates taking an early lead, with sisters, ... Read more
Gig Night Providing Music Therapy
Gig Night is always a popular event, offering our talented musicians and performers the chance to perform music of their choosing. The result is always a wonderful night of music showcasing an array of different styles and genres. The ... Read more
Pre-Prep Reap the Harvest
The Chapel was awash with lovely autumnal decorations, which set the scene beautifully for the Pre-Prep's fabulous celebration of Harvest. The festival began with the Reception Class singing Thank You God for the Harvest and Big Red ... Read more
A Masterclass in Masks
The entire First Form were lucky enough to enjoy a Drama workshop with the renowned and exciting Vamos Theatre company. Capitalising on the current term’s exploration of mime and physical expression, our pupils experienced a ... Read more
Lower Sixth Trip to Cardiff University
The whole of the Lower Sixth got their first taste of university life on a visit to Cardiff University. On arrival, they received a warm welcome from the student ambassadors who led them to what they called a ‘standard’ university ... Read more
A Taste of Sixth Form Life
Fifth Form pupils were given the opportunity to sample the Sixth Form experience at the Sixth Form Taster Day. Pupils attended four full-length Sixth Form taster lessons (which they had chosen in advance); for many, this was a chance ... Read more
The Last Resort
‘The Last Resort’ Holiday Camp was the scene of this year’s annual CPFA Murder Mystery evening, as the audience tried to uncover the culprit in this hilarious ‘whodunnit’. The workers were tragic, forgotten performers of yester-year ... Read more
Harcourt Counting Stars at House Singing
The Senior School came together for the annual House Singing competition, and what an incredible occasion it was too. We were treated to six different performances spanning a range of musical styles, unified only by the dedication and ... Read more
Scholars Expand their Scientific Horizons
Scholars from across the Senior School ventured to London to the 'New Scientist Live' exhibition at the Excel Centre. From brain surgery to parachutes to the science behind headless chickens, nothing was off-limits! The Scholars ... Read more
Sailing Teamwork Makes The Dreamwork
The Sailing team raced against Warwick School in difficult conditions with winds of over 20 knots. With a variety of technical issues against them, including broken shrouds and tears in jib sheets, the team won one race and narrowly ... Read more
A top-secret mission to Bletchley Park
The First Form embarked on a top-secret mission to Bletchley Park as part of the array of activities on offer to pupils during STEM Week. The First Form had the opportunity to explore this fascinating park which was home to the ... Read more
Inclusivity, Engagement, Learning: STEM Week 2023
STEM Week is a stalwart of the Cokethorpe calendar, engaging pupils from the Prep School to Sixth Form in a week packed full of stimulating STEM-related activities, based around a different theme each year. This year the theme was ... Read more
Inspiring Young Authors
It was wonderful to welcome the author of October, October, Katya Balen, into School, in the month of October, to teach a writing workshop for pupils in Years 5 and 6 from Cokethorpe and from Combe Primary School (one of our ... Read more
Gold DofE Students Avoid Getting Bogged Down
An intrepid group of Sixth Formers embarked on their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award qualifying expedition, having completed their training and practice expedition back in June. Armed with the equipment necessary to survive their ... Read more
A Classical Exploration of Antiquity
It was an exploration of antiquity for our Fifth Form and Lower Sixth Latin and Classics pupils as they spent the day at the British Museum in London. There was plenty of inspiration for our Classicists as they explored the statues, ... Read more
Microsoft Showcase School 2023- 2024
Cokethorpe School is delighted to have been recognised by Microsoft for a second year running as a Microsoft Showcase School. An accreditation bestowed for demonstrating a continued commitment to innovation in the use of technology to ... Read more
Learning About Life in the Wild
It was not long before our Year 1 children were off on their first school trip of the year, on an exciting and informative visit to Cotswold Wildlife Park. The children walked around the expansive grounds of the park, peeking into ... Read more
Enlightening Minds with Graffiti
Sixth Form students were delighted to attend their first in this year’s series of Enlightenment lectures from Dr Elizabeth Gemmill, a fellow of Kellogg College on ‘Cokethorpe Graffiti’. Oscar (Lower Sixth, Vanbrugh) said of the ... Read more
The inaugural Corinthian Challenge
The inaugural Corinthian Challenge took place on Wednesday 13 September with pupils running in pursuit of House glory. Amidst some excellent running, tight finishes and high excitement, Queen Anne finished third, Feilden in second, ... Read more
Levi Putting Down Roots at Cokethorpe
It was an honour to welcome back our Prize Giving speaker, the wonderful Levi Roots, to headline our inaugural ‘Gig on the Green’. Over 640 tickets were sold to the event which welcomed old, current and new families to the ... Read more
Forging Friendships
The annual Lower House Camp was, as always, a great success, as a mixture of Prep School leavers and pupils completely new to Cokethorpe came together as Lower House for the first time. The feisty First Form pupils spent the ... Read more
Geographers Draw Data from the Dunes
Whilst other Sixth Form students enjoyed the last remaining days of their holidays, fifteen intrepid Upper Sixth Geographers embarked on an enjoyable field trip to Studland Dunes on the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coastline in ... Read more
Music to Spanish Ears
It was an epic 26-hour journey for our musicians as they headed to Spain over the summer holidays for their music tour, the first to consist of pupils from both the Prep and Senior Schools. On arrival at their destination, just ... Read more
A life-changing trip to Malawi
Immediately after the celebrations that marked the end of the academic year, a group of 21 pupils from across the Fifth and Sixth Forms went on a life-changing trip to Malawi. The focus of the trip was to learn more about the way in ... Read more
GCSE Results Day 2023
Fifth Form pupils at Cokethorpe School have today received the results of their efforts after months and years of preparation. After 80% of Upper Sixth UCAS applicants were accepted to their first-choice universities, following the ... Read more
Results Day 2023
A Level and BTEC students at Cokethorpe School, Oxfordshire prepare for their next steps on results day. Like their peers across the country, Cokethorpe’s Upper Sixth students have today received their results, and, in so doing, ... Read more
Stepping Up: life in and after Sixth Form
The move to Sixth Form is commonly recognised as one of the more significant transitions in a child’s educational development. Head of Sixth Form, Mr Tolputt, discusses how the School supports and guides pupils as they take this ... Read more
Hollywood Glamour at the Peacock Ball
In the evening after our Senior School Prize Giving, students, parents and teachers gathered for an evening to remember: the Summer 2023 Peacock Ball. The students were at their gracious, exuberant best, and there was magic in the ... Read more
Senior School Prize Giving
Prize Givings are primarily opportunities for the community to come together in celebration of the successes, both individual and collective, of a school's pupils. Our Senior School Prize Giving this year proved to be something rather ... Read more
Fourth Form CEW Trip to Barcelona
A group of Fourth Form linguists visited Barcelona. The first day was packed with activities which included a visit to Port Vell, the newly renovated harbour, and a walk up the Ramblas. In the nearby Barri Gotic (Catalan for Gothic ... Read more
Second Form Curriculum Enrichment Week
Our intrepid Second Form pupils set off to the Reach Outdoors Centre in Devon. Throughout the week, pupils demonstrated a huge amount of support for one another and to staff, whether that was pulling on (really pulling on!) wetsuits ... Read more
The Wind in the Willows
Stories are a very special sort of magic with some so special that every child simply must know them; Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in The Willows sits firmly within that category. So, we were delighted that our very own Mrs Luckett ... Read more
Prep School Prize Giving
Our Prep School Prize Giving was once again a joyous occasion, celebrating all that is great about our wonderful School. The Chamber Choir sang beautifully, and Mrs Black spoke about the importance of music in the curriculum. Our ... Read more
First Form Curriculum Enrichment Week
Curriculum Enrichment Week was a little different for our First Form pupils this year, who, in a change to their planned trip to Paris, instead embraced a week of adventures a little closer to home. The week began with our linguists ... Read more
Society Informal Lunch
We were delighted to welcome sixteen Old Cokethorpeans (OCs) and families as they gathered for a School tour and an informal lunch in the historic Corinthian Room of the Mansion House. They represented five decades of Society, and ... Read more
Fourth Form Curriculum Enrichment Week
There was another carousel of exciting activities in store for our Fourth Form on their week of adventures. First up, was a day of water sports. Due to the somewhat inclement weather, there was more apprehension than usual about ... Read more
Third Form Curriculum Enrichment Week
Pupils in the Third Form participated in a carousel of activities, which included a messy visit to Combat Splat in Gloucestershire for a competitive paintballing session. A trip to Farmoor Reservoir proved a test of endurance as they ... Read more
A Record Breaking Sports Day
The Senior School Sports Day was a fabulous display of healthy competition and great sportsmanship. The atmosphere was electric, as parents and pupils descended on the Ducklington Cricket Square to watch our athletes in action. The ... Read more
A Final Farewell to French Friends
We were delighted to welcome our French exchange partners back to England for their leg of the Fourth Form exchange. Their respective Cokethorpe families welcomed them with happiness and hoorays as friends were reunited. Weekends were ... Read more
Prep and Senior School Art Exhibitions
This year, the Prep School teamed up with the Senior Art Department to celebrate the artwork from both Schools in one evening. Parents from the Prep School were able to visit their children's work in the Senior Lower Library and then ... Read more
Climbing to New Heights
After a successful year of competitions, NICAS awards and day trips, our climbing team visited the heart of North Wales to make the most of what Snowdonia has to offer. Pupils began the trip by climbing on a steep limestone ... Read more
World-Class Circuit Training
We were delighted to welcome Team GB athlete James Vogel to the Prep School to speak to pupils about his career and put them through their paces in a sponsored fitness circuit. James is a Team GB rower based at The Leander Club in ... Read more
A Sporting Dash to the Finish Line
Sports Day is always an important and eagerly anticipated event in the Prep School calendar for pupils, parents, and teachers alike, and this year was no different. The day began with our Pre-Prep taking centre stage as they ran, ... Read more
Captivating Performances in Devised Drama
Fourth Form GCSE Drama candidates presented their devised work in The Shed in front of a live audience as part of their assessments. The pupils selected and researched a range of challenging subject material before devising their ... Read more
Second Form Present Independent Research
Congratulations to our Second Form pupils who confidently presented their Independent Research Projects to their teachers and peers. They have been working on these for the past year and, back in September, each pupil came up with a ... Read more
Jolly Jaunt on the Jurassic Coast
Our plucky Year 5 pupils set off on an unforgettable camping residential trip to the Jurassic Coast in the tented village at Cumulus Outdoors, Swanage, Dorset. Guided by highly qualified and knowledgeable instructors, there was no ... Read more
A Fine Finish to the Fifth Form
After weeks of examinations and preparations for them, it was finally time for the Fifth Form to relax and attend their formal Dinner. The dinner offered pupils the well-deserved opportunity to celebrate their achievements and ... Read more
Simply Messing About in Boats
It was a trip down the River Thames this term for the whole of the Prep School (with the exception of Year 5 who were off on their residential) on their visit to the River and Rowing Museum in Henley-on Thames. All pupils in the ... Read more
Meandering Down the River Cole
Second Form Geographers have been studying river processes this year and enjoyed a sunny field trip to the River Cole on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire border to put their classroom learning into practice. Kitted out with wellies, ... Read more
Putting Linguistic Skills to the Test
Second and Third Form pupils had the opportunity to put their Spanish skills to the test as they watched a performance of Mi Personalidad from the Onatti Theatre Company, all in Spanish. Whilst the language used was authentic and ... Read more
Down on the Farm
The Pre-Prep visited Churchills Farm in Northmoor where they saw Ruby Red cows and a one-week-old calf have his ears tagged, he was very brave! They were also all weighed together to see if they were as heavy as a bull but the 23 ... Read more
GCSE Geographers Get Lay of the Land
Fourth Form Geographers spent a fantastic weekend at Nettlecombe in Somerset as part of their GCSE course requirement. Friday afternoon involved wellies, measuring tapes and impellors to investigate flow rates, depth, width and ... Read more
Devizes to Westminster
Congratulations to our marathon kayakers who completed the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race over the Easter holidays. Unforgiving rain across the weeks preceding the race resulted in high water, fast flows and dangerous ... Read more
Paddles Put Pupils Through Their Paces
The Second Form took to the water at Hardwick Park as they embarked on an exciting trip to test the canoe paddles they had crafted over the last few weeks in their DT lessons. Despite the chilly morning, intermittent rays of sun ... Read more
Coasts, Canoeing and Castles in Kilvrough
It was the turn of our intrepid Year 6 pupils to embark on their adventure to the Kilvrough Manor Centre in Swansea for their three-night residential trip. The group were certainly not short of activities to keep them entertained ... Read more
Scholars’ Dinner Celebrates Success
It was a wonderful celebration of the success of our Scholars, as 130 pupils, parents and teachers gathered in the Dining Hall for the annual Scholars' Dinner. They were treated to a delicious three-course meal, courtesy of the ... Read more
Year 4 Rock First Residential
It was quite an adventure for our Year 4 pupils as they embarked on, what was for many, their first experience of staying away from home. The air of nervousness on the morning of departure quickly dissipated on arrival as pupils got ... Read more
Rockets and Rovers with Science Oxford
The Year 5 visit from Science Oxford took off as pupils experienced two spectacular workshops linked to space that encouraged both creativity and scientific thinking. The first activity was out of this world! Pupils were tasked ... Read more
Lights, Camera, Action!
The Second Form tested their skills both in front of and behind the camera, in an exciting 'Film in a Day' workshop. They learned how to produce and direct films using state-of-the-art technology and how to use a variety of different ... Read more
Visiting Author Inspires Pre-Prep
The Pre-Prep and Year 3 were very excited to have a visit from Camille Goodman, author of Mister Finch and the Queen, a quirky rhyming story about an old man who is invited to visit the Queen in London. Camille first read the story, ... Read more
Exploring Knossos at Ashmolean
Fourth Form pupils studying Greek and Latin were transported to the palace of Knossos in Crete, as they explored the wondrous artefacts on display at the Ashmolean Museum. The new exhibition, ‘Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth and Reality’ was ... Read more
Music to Our Ears as Gig Night Returns
It was a delight for all to welcome back the ever-popular Gig Night. The event provides a wonderful opportunity to share their talents, as all are welcome to participate and perform music of their choosing. This Gig Night was ... Read more
Romeo and Juliet
When Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet it is unlikely that he ever imagined a cast of 55 children aged nine, ten, and eleven enacting his sixteen-part play so professionally. In the Prep School, however, challenge is to be embraced, ... Read more
An Armada of Team Building
This term, it was the turn of our Second Form pupils to rise to the challenges set for them at the Royal Navy Day. Their skills were certainly put to the test as they were building a communications tower using STEM kits they were ... Read more
Silence Speaks Louder Than Words
On Thursday 30 March, pupils and staff ate in the Dining Hall in complete silence, raising funds for The Lion’s Barber Collective, a charity that champions the importance of men's mental health, by introducing alternate routes to ... Read more
Tea, Tuck and Trinkets
The Dining Hall was awash with delicious cakes, fabulous artwork and craft stalls at the CPFA Easter Tea Party, all thanks to the incredible efforts of our fabulous Prep School pupils. Pupils worked incredibly hard to deliver this ... Read more
Rock Maths Like Tom
Pupils from the Third Form and Lower Sixth had the opportunity to ‘rock’ maths when we welcomed Dr Tom Crawford, a Mathematics tutor at the University of Oxford, to Cokethorpe. Dr Crawford runs the award-winning website ... Read more
Animal Farm
The Lent Term productions have become legendary here at Cokethorpe for their vast scale, vibrant design, and their ambitious scope. This year’s performance of Animal Farm continued this legacy with a fiery and captivating performance. ... Read more
A Bon Voyage
The Modern Foreign Languages Department were delighted to welcome back the French exchange programme, allowing a group of nineteen Fourth Form pupils to travel to the idyllic Marignane, in the South East of France. Pupils were able to ... Read more
Bikeability
Year 5 and 6 got back in the saddle as they undertook their ‘bikeability’ training course held here at Cokethorpe. Bikeability is the national standard for cycling in the UK, and the programme was delivered by qualified instructors ... Read more
Music Springs to Life
The atmosphere was electric at this year’s Spring Concert, which marked two firsts in the history of Cokethorpe’s Music Department: it was the first concert ever to take place in the Dining Hall, where the performers could take full ... Read more
Unmasking Theatrics
Fresh from their highly successful recent performance of ‘Dracula’, all of Second Form took part in a fantastic workshop with Vamos Theatre company. Learning the wonderful skills of mask work and physical expression, the pupils were ... Read more
It’s all Greek to me
Congratulations to Amelia (Feilden) and Ellie (Swift), members of the Third Form Greek AOB, for their success in the Latin and Greek Reading Competition held at the University of Oxford. The event brought together almost one ... Read more
Second Form delve into the shadows
Second Form Dramatists delved in to the shadows this term with their thrilling production of ‘Dracula’. The entire year group performed, taking responsibility for communicating a section of the story. With the use of minimal props and ... Read more
Grimm Tales told by First Form
Our First Form dramatic talent exploded onto the stage in a riot of colour, humour and physicality in the production of The Fairy Tales Grimm. Every class took responsibility for a different fairy tale, adapted from the unnerving ... Read more
Scholarly Pride
Our Heads of Scholars, Dr Harrison (SH) and Dr Oldham (CO), discuss the Scholars’ Programme and their plans for its future. How long have you headed Cokethorpe’s Scholars’ programme? I took on co-responsibility for the programme ... Read more
A Virtuosic Young Musician’s Final
‘A most joyous day’, ‘pure pleasure’ and ‘an absolute privilege’ were just some of the tributes, congratulations and never-ending praise that guest adjudicator, Mr David Gibbs, bestowed on our marvellous musicians who took part in the ... Read more
Play-based Learning in Cokethorpe Pre-Prep
Reception Class Teacher, Mrs Brash, explains the benefits of play-based learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage, followed in Cokethorpe Pre-Prep. What is play-based learning? The main thing that differentiates play-based ... Read more
Formal Celebration for Sixth Form Scholars
Sixth Form Academic Scholars enjoyed a fabulous evening of fine dining and wine tasting at the Sixth Form Scholars' Formal. This black-tie event provided the students with a highly enjoyable opportunity to familiarise themselves with ... Read more
Cokethorpe Ski Trip
After an absence of two seasons the Cokethorpe ski trip was back! On Friday 16 December, the largest group of Cokethorpe skiers in the School’s history assembled and headed to Sestriere in the Italian Alps. 107 students and pupils ... Read more
Model Students Show United Front
This year, the Sixth Form revived the Cokethorpe Model United Nations Team, which had been in abeyance since before the pandemic. Students, Joe (Upper Sixth, Queen Anne), Rachael (Lower Sixth, Feilden), Iman (Upper Sixth, Queen Anne), ... Read more
Treasure Island
The Senior School Michaelmas Term production of Treasure Island was yet another outstanding performance from our talented pupils. From its romping sea shanties to its dark brooding atmosphere of menace, this show was packed with ... Read more
Scholars’ and Christmas Art Exhibition
Scholars from the First Form to Fourth Form and Lower Sixth exhibited the wide-ranging independent research they have been conducting since September during the eagerly-anticipated Scholars' Exhibition Evening. Their investigations ... Read more
St Cecilia Concert
Over 100 Senior School pupils gathered in The Shed on Thursday 17 November for the first large-scale concert since the pandemic. The concert began with an energetic and lively performance by the orchestra, playing some of Hans ... Read more
Baarmy Bethlehem
Expectations are always high for the Pre-Prep Nativity, and when it comes to setting a mood of reverence or exuberance, this year’s Pre-Prep performance, Baarmy Bethlehem, unapologetically opted for the latter. A trio of party ... Read more
Talking Themselves into the Second Round
On Monday 5th December the Cokethorpe Public Speaking AOB entered two Teams into the first round of the ESU Public Speaking competition. Emily (Fifth Form, Gascoigne) began proceedings for Team A with a speech exploring a feminist ... Read more
A passion for English
As part of their work on Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, pupils have been writing their own descriptions of imagined mean characters and the weather. To develop their descriptive writing, some second form pupils took a trip to the Woods ... Read more
An Evening with James Haskell
On Thursday 24 November, our third annual Sports Dinner was held in the Dining Hall. Over 100 guests attended to listen to guest speaker James Haskell and take part in a fun rugby themed event and auction. Guests were treated to a ... Read more
Colour Run and 24-hours of Sport
The School was transformed into a rainbow of colour as pupils from First Form to Sixth Form ran a 5km route around the School grounds raising money for the Charity ‘Sport in Mind’. Staff took much delight in throwing different ... Read more
A Taste of Life in the Sixth Form
The Sixth Form Taster Day is always an exciting and eagerly anticipated event for our Fifth Form pupils, as they are given the opportunity to sample the Sixth Form experience. Pupils choose four full-length Sixth Form taster lessons ... Read more
Little Red Hen
Year 1 dressed as farmers, started their performance of The Little Red Hen chatting about gathering the harvest with the children offering to help. They then retold the much-loved tale assisted by Year 2 narrators. The hard-working ... Read more
Autumnal Elegance at the Six Five Dinner
At the start of term, the Six Five Dinner Challenge was introduced to students in the Lower Sixth. The idea is simple: in pairs of Houses they are to plan, organise, budget and host an early evening dinner (plus entertainment) for ... Read more
Puzzle Challenge Day
The Happy Puzzle Company certainly put a smile on the faces of Prep School pupils as they were welcomed to Cokethorpe as part of STEM week. During the Puzzle Challenge Day, pupils from Reception Class to Year 6 took part in tailored ... Read more
Hockey Heroes
Huge congratulations to our First XI Hockey team following their incredible victory at the U18 County Hockey Tournament. The squad travelled to Oxford Hawks Field Hockey Club in North Oxford to compete against the best teams in ... Read more
A Race to Rescue in STEM Week
STEM Week made its periodical return to the equation this month with a theme of ‘Race to Rescue’. There were many elements to the activities this year, which included: the Tutor Group Challenge, creating a balloon-powered racing car; ... Read more
A Rather Unconventional Wedding
Guests arrived at The Shed in their fascinators and finery for a rather unconventional wedding! The nuptials of the blushing bride, Chardonnay, and her betrothed, Jason, formed the backdrop of this year’s CPFA Murder Mystery Evening. ... Read more
Enlightenment Lecture Programme
Mr Elkin-Jones, coordinator of the Enlightenment Lectures, explores its raison d’être, and what the future holds for this intellectually invigorating programme. What is the series and how did it come about? The series has a long ... Read more
From the Romans to the Rosetta Stone
A visit to the British Museum provided inspiration for our Fifth Form Latin GCSE pupils as they explored statues, monuments and artefacts from ancient Greece and Rome. The morning was spent in the Roman rooms, examining the portraits ... Read more
Dressing for Success
The CPFA would like to thank our Prep School parents for their generous donations of old School uniform. The uniform was donated to the Mwangala Mwenda Foundation, which primarily provides practical, educational and financial support ... Read more
Space to Learn and Roam
There was an added buzz of excitement on the first day of term, as the children in Reception Class and Year 1 saw their new classrooms for the first time. This wonderful, new dedicated space for our youngest pupils boasts a host of ... Read more
Senior School Prize Giving
This year’s Senior School Prize Giving returned to its rightful place as the concluding act of the School year. It is in the act of awarding prizes that we join in celebration of the purposeful and fruitful endeavours of our pupils ... Read more
Pan in Neverland
Across the Prep School our theme for the term was ‘Onward Bound’ which enabled teachers to design learning linked to the moving-on and growing-up transitions that occur in School at year end. In designing a fitting Performing Arts ... Read more
Prep School Prize Giving
It was wonderful to be able to come together again in the marquee for the Prep School Prize Giving. We were treated to two songs from the Prep School Choir, accompanied by Dr Winkley. For the traditional Scottish lullaby, Baloo ... Read more
Senior School Summer Games
The Cokethorpe Summer Games 2022 was an eagerly anticipated event, after the success of the previous year. With a return to normality across the sporting world, we were delighted to welcome back individual running races, javelin, shot ... Read more
Approaches to Learning in a Digital Age
Mr Uglow, Director of Studies, discusses the symbiotic relationship between traditional approaches to teaching and the burgeoning opportunities for integration of technology into the modern classroom. There is, and I suspect there ... Read more
Year 6 Residential
On Monday 27 June, Year 6 travelled to Swanage, Dorset, for their end of year residential trip, run by Cumulus Outdoors. Accompanying them were Mr Gaertner, Mrs Arbuckle, and Mrs Mersh on her last outing with the Prep School. The ... Read more
International Week
Cokethorpe pupils were given the opportunity to explore what being a global citizen means as they celebrated International Week. Over this five-day period, many departments explored social, political, and environmental issues around ... Read more
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Walk
Under a royal blue sky, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Walk took place on the final day before Summer half term. The whole of the Prep School, with many pupils and staff wearing Jubilee-themed colours and outfits, joined in the ... Read more
Prep School Concert
Prep Arts were delighted to host a second Prep School music concert in the beautiful Corinthian Room, once again showcasing the talents of instrumentalists from Years 3 to 6. Parents enjoyed a truly diverse selection of pieces ... Read more
Build-a-Bike Launch
On 14 June, the Build-a-Bike AOB culminated in the launch of their restoration project, the Cokethorpe BSA Bantam motorcycle. Resplendent in bright ‘Post Office’ red, this glorious little machine from the 1960s has taken three years ... Read more
Foundations for Learning
Deputy Head of Prep School, Joanna James, discusses the importance of strong foundations for learning in the Prep School, and the benefits of the through school model. What do we mean by the Creative Curriculum? It is a way of ... Read more
Society of Heads’ Champions 2022
Huge congratulations to our U16 and U18 football teams on their success in the Society of Heads' football tournament. The teams competed in back-to-back finals in the national tournament which was held at Loughborough University. ... Read more
A Muddy AOB Run
As many of us were enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend from the comforts of our own homes, a brave group of Fifth Form pupils travelled to the edge of Shropshire to crawl, slide, leap and run their way through the obstacles of the Dent ... Read more
Little Shop of Horrors
The Lent Term production of Little Shop of Horrors was an explosively entertaining event, with outstanding characterisation, fantastic music, vibrant costumes, accomplished choreography and brilliant puppetry. Set in the run-down back ... Read more
Public Speaking Showcase
Public Speaking is generally characterised as being only for people who are quick-witted and confident. In fact, our Public Speaking AOB welcomes anyone willing to try new things and, in the process, boosts their confidence to a new ... Read more
An Evening of Verse
Poetry can sometimes be overlooked, often considered ‘old-fashioned’ or indeed ‘difficult,’ and yet poems can and do engage both young and old in a way no other form of literature perhaps can. Second World War poetry is often studied ... Read more
The AOB Programme
Mr Sheer, Director of Co-Curricular, discusses the AOB Programme. What is the AOB programme and how does it work? Perhaps the trickiest element of defining the AOB programme is that it serves so many functions and, with over 160 ... Read more
London Society Drinks Reception
We were delighted to welcome almost 100 Old Cokethorpeans to this year’s Cokethorpe Society Drinks Reception. Held on the Terrace of the House of Commons, guests enjoyed both the splendour of walking through the historic Westminster ... Read more
Fundraising for Ukraine
In response to the terrible humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Cokethorpe responded in two ways. First, goods requested by The Red Cross were collected over a two-week period filling a trailer that was then delivered to a collection ... Read more
Young Musician of the Year
This year, the Young Musician of the Year Competition began with a week of tough and competitive heats. A range of instruments, clarinets and violins to electric guitars and singers, competed for their place in the coveted final. ... Read more
Inter-House Countdown
The spirit of Inter-House competition was kept alive once again during a period of lockdown. Those competitions took many forms, some, such as the Trek to Tokyo, tested the Houses in a physical capacity, whilst others warmed the ... Read more
Tutor Partnering – Pupil Perspectives
Jamie Minns (OC 2022, Vanbrugh) discusses the Tutor Partnering programme. Tell us about the Tutor Partnering system in House. Members of the Upper Sixth in Houses – and later in the year, the Lower Sixth, will join the afternoon ... Read more
Global Citizens – Keeping Cokethorpe Connected
‘No man is an island, Entire of itself; Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main.’ John Donne We spoke to Teacher of English Ms Jackson about her role as the Head of International Affairs and the importance of ... Read more
Holocaust Memorial Day
On Thursday 27 January, to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, the School was privileged once again to welcome Kenneth Appel into School via Teams to give a talk about his life. Kenneth was born into a Jewish family in Germany in the ... Read more
The Threepenny Opera
After a two-year hiatus we were delighted to be able to bring live theatrical performance back to The Shed with Bertolt Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera in front of a live (albeit restricted and socially distanced) audience. Tom (Upper ... Read more
Scholars’ Exhibition Evening
On Monday 22 November, 34 Academic Scholars from First Form to Lower Sixth took part in the Scholars’ Exhibition Evening. Attended by pupils, parents and teachers, the event was held in the Dining Hall where the Scholars each ... Read more
The EPQ Programme
What are the benefits of the EPQ programme? Mr Waldron, EPQ Coordinator explains. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is an optional programme involving the exploration of a topic chosen by the student and leading to a ... Read more
Crossing Borders Week
Crossing Borders has been the subject of a recent week-long focus at Cokethorpe where, through a series of opportunities and activities, pupils and staff were encouraged to consider what it means to step out of our comfort zone and ... Read more
Show Jumping
The annual show jumping competition returned this year, with determined riding from all eighteen competitors. Pupils from the Prep School and across the Senior School came out in force to cheer on their peers at this popular event. ... Read more
The Peacock Ball
On the evening of Friday 17 September, students, parents and teachers gathered on the Mansion lawn for an evening to remember: the Summer 2021 Peacock Ball. Much like the Chelsea Flower Show, Summer came late this year; and yet it was ... Read more
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Academic
Our liberal educational model, coupled with modern pedagogical approaches, ensures pupils learn in a vibrant, engaging and intellectually stimulating environment.
The Co-Curricular Programme
Our Co-Curricular Programme covers the performing and creative arts, sport and outdoor education, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and our extensive range of clubs and societies.
Upcoming Events
Find out about and book for the upcoming events at the School, from Open Mornings to concerts and drama productions across the Prep and Senior Schools.
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