Is Headington Rye Oxford School a Good Choice? Learn About Headington Rye Oxford School’s Ranking, Subjects, and Tuition Fees

Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) is a renowned independent girls’ boarding school in the UK, offering a wide range of academic subjects and extracurricular activities. With its comprehensive boarding system and state-of-the-art facilities, the school ensures students excel both academically and personally. Many parents are interested in whether Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) meets their expectations in terms of ranking and tuition fees and whether it is a suitable choice for their child’s education. This article provides an in-depth look into the school’s background, curriculum, and tuition details to help students and parents make informed decisions.

Campus Features and Future Developments at Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School)

Founded in 1915, Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) is located in the southern UK city of Oxford. It boasts exceptional learning, sports, arts, and boarding facilities. The school is committed to promoting the importance of girls' education, creating an environment free of gender bias where students can focus on their strengths and interests to achieve higher academic success.

At the end of 2024, Headington School announced its merger with neighbouring Rye St Antony. Over the next two years, these two like-minded schools will establish a new high school and preparatory school. The future plan involves utilising the current Rye St Antony campus to admit boys and girls aged 3 to 18, while the Headington School site will continue to serve girls aged 11 to 18, offering boarding facilities for those over 11 [1].

Headington is an independent day boarding school in Oxford 
Headington is an independent day boarding school in Oxford 

Source: Boarding Schools Advice

Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) Ranking

According to The Sunday Times Parent Power 2024 rankings for UK independent schools, Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) is ranked 121st nationwide [1] and 44th among independent schools in the Southeast region [2]. 

Headington Rye Oxford School students achieve impressive academic results in both A-level and GCSE examinations. In 2024, 61% of students achieved A*-A grades at A-level, and 87% attained A*-B. Notably, 8 students achieved 3 or more A* grades, meeting the admission standards for Oxford or Cambridge [3]. Additionally, the school was ranked 26th for GCSE results and 23rd for A-level results in the 2024 UK independent boarding school rankings [4][5]. These exceptional results place Headington Rye Oxford School among the top 50 boarding schools for 2025 [6]. 

Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) Curriculum

Headington Rye Oxford School admits boys aged 3 to 11 and girls aged 3 to 18. Girls in Year 7 and above can choose to board, and the school provides student visas specifically for full-boarding girls aged 11 to 18 [8], actively welcoming international students from across the globe. 

The school offers a diverse range of educational opportunities. From preparatory years, students are introduced to foundational courses such as French, Computer Science, Science, and Geography. A variety of extracurricular activities are also available, covering coding, music, sports, and debating. 

At higher year levels, students have greater opportunities to explore a wide range of subjects and develop their potential while learning a second language. For GCSEs, students can choose from 28 subjects [7], including Chemistry, Computer Science, English Literature, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Drama, and Modern Languages, enabling them to excel in their core areas of strength. 

In the Sixth Form, the school offers 30 A-level subjects [8], covering areas such as Modern Art, Biology, Computer Science, Fashion and Textiles, History, Latin, Philosophy, and Photography. In addition to core academic subjects, students can take part in elective courses and extracurricular activities (such as a mini MBA programme) to explore new interests and develop various skills. 

The school also offers two BTEC diploma courses, each equivalent to two full A-levels, providing an alternative pathway to traditional A-levels [9]. 

Beyond academics, Headington Rye Oxford School places a strong emphasis on extracurricular activities, offering over 120 activities weekly [10]. Through clubs, lectures, and trips, students can expand their knowledge and skills across a variety of areas, including arts, sports, music, and languages. 

Over 120 extracurricular activities take place each week in Headington 
Over 120 extracurricular activities take place each week in Headington 

Source: Freepik 

Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) Tuition Fees

The tuition fees at Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) include learning materials, boarding fees, and meals, but exclude additional costs such as music lessons, drama lessons, and language classes. International students are required to take an entrance exam and pay an application fee (£180 for Nursery to Year 6 and £300 for senior students). If taking the exam overseas, invigilation fees will also apply [8]. 

The tuition fees at Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) vary depending on the boarding option and year group. Below is a breakdown of the tuition fees for day students per term, including VAT [13]:

Year GroupSixth Form PreparatorySixth Form EnrolledYears  7-11 Years 5-6Years 3-4Years 1-2Nursery
Tuition Fees £8,567£9,318£8,567£6,874£6,078£5,355£4,516 

Tuition Fees for Boarding Students (Per Term)

Year GroupWeekly BoardingPart-Boarding Full Boarding Occasional Boardin
Sixth Form Preparatory£11,338 £14,185£16,981£90 per night
Sixth Form Enrolled£12,484 £15,727 £18,607 £90 per night
Years 7-11£11,338 £14,185£16,981 £90 per night
Headington School fee includes all necessary educational materials 
Headington School fee includes all necessary educational materials 

Source: iStock 

Is Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) a Good Choice? Consult Our Professional Study Abroad Advisors

With the information provided above, we hope students and parents now have a clearer understanding of Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School)’s ranking and tuition fees. If you are still unsure whether Headington Rye Oxford School (Headington School) is the right choice for your studies, feel free to contact us. We will be happy to provide further details and study abroad advice to help you and your family make the best decision. 

Reference:  

1. Headington Rye Oxford - Change and Evolution 

https://www.headington.org/head-updates/change-and-evolution/ 

2. Kidify - 2024 Parent Power - Top Independent Secondary Schools in UK - The Sunday Times Parent Power League Tables 2024 

https://kidify.co.uk/blog/top-independent-secondary-schools-in-uk 

3. Kidify - 2024 Parent Power - Top Independent / Private Secondary schools in SouthEast - The Sunday Times Parent Power League Tables 2024 

https://kidify.co.uk/blog/top-independent-private-secondary-schools-in-southeast 

4. Headington School - Fantastic A Level results celebrated 

https://www.headington.org/news/fantastic-a-level-results-celebrated/ 

5. Best Schools - Top 100 Boarding Schools by GCSE 

https://www.best-schools.co.uk/uk-school-league-tables/list-of-league-tables/top-boarding-schools-by-gcse 

6. Top UK 100 boarding schools by A-levels results 

https://ukuni.net/articles/top-uk-100-boarding-schools-levels-results 

7. Atom Learning - The top 50 boarding schools in the UK in 2025 

https://atomlearning.com/blog/best-boarding-schools-in-the-UK 

8. Headington Rye Oxford - Senior School 

https://www.headington.org/senior/why-headington-senior-school/ 

9. Headington Rye Oxford - Sixth Form 

https://www.headington.org/sixth-form/why-headington-sixth-form/ 

10. Headington Rye Oxford - Sixth Form - Academic 

https://www.headington.org/sixth-form/academic/ 

11. Headington Rye Oxford - Enrichment Activities 

https://www.headington.org/senior/enrichment-activities/ 

12. Headington Rye Oxford - Overseas Applications 

https://www.headington.org/admissions/overseas-applications/ 

13. Headington Rye Oxford - Fees 

https://www.headington.org/admissions/fees/ 


Grove Education Editor

Offers parents and students comprehensive information on education, including overviews of local and overseas education systems, academic pathways, institutions, and programmes, with the aim of helping students make informed decisions and explore a wider range of opportunities.