Bloxham School, nr Banbury

WHAT? WHERE?

Bloxham School is a co-ed day/boarding for kids 11-18 in the pretty North Oxfordshire village of – where else? – Bloxham, about 3 miles south of Banbury. The school is long established, having been founded in 1860, but unlike many public schools that started life as manor houses before ‘diversifying’ into education, Bloxham was actually custom built for the purpose. So though the neo gothic buildings, with later additions, are handsome, they are restrained rather than expansive.

For this reason it seems at first glance that Bloxham doesn’t have much to speak of in terms of grounds – no sweeping wooded driveway to trumpet your arrival – but actually the school has a large 60 acres to play with, and when you think that the school only has 531 pupils (181 in the Sixth Form, 378 boarders in 7 houses from age 13+ including 25 international students), there’s a lot of space per kid.

SPORTS FACILITIES

For a small school, Bloxham punches well above its weight sports-wise (the current headmaster is a former Oxford University rugby player and outdoor education instructor), and there are some awesome sports  facilities – 2 all weather hockey pitches, 2 squash courts, two fives courts, six netball courts doubling as tennis in the summer, and a 23m pool. There’s a modern sports hall with a groovy indoor climbing wall, yoga studio, gym, and fitness classes.

The astroturf

Bloxham’s main sports throughout the year are for boys rugby, hockey and cricket, and for girls hockey, netball and tennis. It has many children representing county teams, and has seen individual successes in a wide range of sports including netball (with students representing Wasps Netball), sailing, F3 motor racing and vaulting. The Rugby U18s won the 2019 Schools Plate and three of the 1st XV represented England (U20, U20, England Lambs) last year. The school won the National clay pigeon shooting title for the third year in a row, and athletics, riding and netball are also strong.

All of the kids take part in three coached sessions of sport a week, and 96% of them represented the school in competitive fixtures this year, so even for the resolutely non-sporty, there’s no escape! Have a horse? No problem! There’s no stabling at the school (though it’s available at a nearby yard) but kids can bring their mounts for twice-weekly tuition. There’s also an annual eventing competition run by the school, held locally, and Bloxham’s enjoyed national success in eventing, most recently winning the School Equestrian Games National Eventing Team Championships. 

MUSIC, ART & DRAMA

The Library

The music building was redeveloped a few years back and now includes, as well as the usual practise rooms and class rooms, a music technology suite of 22 computers  all running Sibelius 7 and Cubase 7, so your child can make his or her secret ambitions to be the first public school rapper or thrash metal star come true.

Music is taken seriously here with a Musician in Residence and the chance for the best musicians to perform with the world class Adderbury Ensemble who happen to be based locally (I’ve listened to them loads, they’re amazing). There are also regular seminars from professional musicians and ensembles to share their own experiences and run workshops for all. All First Form pupils have the chance to learn an instrument for free in the Musicians of the Future scheme. Ensembles include Chapel Choir, Concert Band, String Groups, Jazz Band and many smaller chamber groups. The upshot? 200 lessons are taught every week, a regular concert series for all ages and abilities and continuing healthy numbers for GCSE and A Level music. They’re doing something right in the music department.

Additionally, last year the school’s choir toured Rome, including performances at the Pantheon and Vatican. WOW.

Drama is particularly strong at Bloxham and there’s a huge take up for GSCE and A Level with an annual school production and House Drama competition to fuel enthusiasm for performing throughout the school. Facilities-wise the Great Hall is fully tecked up for lighting, rowed seating for theatrical and music performances. There’s a cool stand alone art block too with a bright room that looks out over the cricket pitch – there’s no doubt that creative subjects are very strong at Bloxham, with Photography offered as a GSCE and Art a big individual calling card.

NEW FACILITIES

Recent improvements include the new stand-alone modern Sixth Form building, new science classrooms, and a new Girls’ House in September 2020, bringing their total to four boys’ houses and three for girls. There will be an extension to this third girls’ boarding house over the next year to open in Autumn 2022.

ACADEMIC RESULTS

Based on the school’s ethos of not necessarily selecting pupils on academic ability, the bread and butter at Bloxham is in stretching those middle-of-the-road kids who need a bit more help. There’s a lot of scaffolding in place to that end including small class sizes of 15, a 6 week individual learning plan for every child, and a doubling of English and increasing maths tuition lower down the school.

Bloxham doesn’t like to publish reports on its grades, citing the fact that Bloxham is more than just about academics (which is true) but also indicative of the broad range of results. That said, the standard of teaching is clearly high here. This year, Bloxham A Level students scored 90% A*-C with 73% at grades A*’B, and nearly half of all results were at A*/A grades. The small number of students who undertook BTEC qualifications achieved over 80% at Distinction*/Distinction (the equivalent to A*/A in UCAS points).

At GCSE, the majority of grades are achieved between 7-9 and a 99% pass rate combined with outstanding individual performances.

And a big deal worth a flag wave – the school has a mini MBA for Sixth Formers in conjunction with the University of Buckingham’s Business School, to help them explore and understand the mechanics of how business works – the first school in the UK to run a bespoke qualification of this type. And, new this year, is a mini Masters in Applied Positive Psychology for Sixth Form, working with New Buckinghamshire uni. This is an interactive course looking at how to be your best self: boosting positive emotions, for example.

THE HEAD

This is Paul Sanderson’s ninth year in the job, having moved from deputy head at Gordonstoun. I’ve met him several times over the years and have watched him transform Bloxham into a really well respected school. Charismatic and friendly with adults, his credentials as an ex Oxford Uni rugby player also plays out well with pupils. He still referees school rugby matches and takes the kids on DofE expeditions, so he’s definitely ‘accessible’ for the kids.

He’s also, in my opinion, commercially savvy. For example, a couple of years ago there was a gap in the market for local children who wanted to access the best of Bloxham School but don’t need/want the cost of boarding, so he instigated a day pupil house a few minutes down the road where kids can enjoy all the private school perks and still make it home for Love Island. And not so long ago he introduced an on-site café for Sixth Formers and staff that will also be open to the public (there’s only one other café in Bloxham and a couple of coffee-friendly pubs, so it’s a no-brainer).

QUIRKS

Bloxham lays its Christian credentials out proudly and openly, describing itself as a ‘Christian foundation school’ (though they welcome all faiths). The first five headmasters at Bloxham were Anglican priests, and  Christian values pervade, though with only one chapel service a week (in a drop-dead gorgeous building) it’s hardly rammed down the throat. In terms of music, Bloxham has a groovy music tech department allowing the kids to DJ at the school discos. Not exactly a quirk but flippin lovely is the Neom diffuser in the toilet. Just saying!

FEES

Senior school boarding (£11,830), Senior school day boarding (£9,075), Y1-2 weekly boarding (£8,855), Y1-2 weekly boarding (£8,500), Y1-2 day boarding (£7,235). Senior Day House (£6,100) and Lower School Day House (£6,295) are inclusive of lunch and snacks, but not breakfast or supper. All school fees include core curricular materials and activities, including day trips, and some whole-year activity camps. Overnight stays for Day Boarders are charged at £57 a night.

WRAP AROUND CARE

I checked out the boarding facilities which were modern, clean, basic – entirely average I’d say and what I’d expect to see in most boarding houses. Day boarders are allocated a study room in their House and can stay until 6pm or up to 9.45pm without booking in advance, or even sleep over if they wish. Day and full boarders co-exist peacefully here, there doesn’t appear to be a ‘some are more equal than others’ mentality amongst those who board full time. The new day facility – heavy on the orange (er, because the future’s bright?) –  means local kids can stay for the long school day without having to board.

The day-glow day house

WORD ON THE GROUND

Very positive. Parents like its nurturing, ‘all–rounder’ ethos. The perception is that the creative arts are stronger than sciences here at present. The pastoral care and communication with parents is apparently very good. During lockdown, the school received great feedback from parents for its commitment to sticking to the normal school timetable and supporting students.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for:  The mid-ability child who wants stretching. Kids who prefer a smaller, more ‘family’ style school, with a less hierarchical structure between the year groups. Parents who want their children to have the opportunity to join in at sport, music and drama – participation is widely encouraged. The school felt very creative and progressive to me, with its textiles and music tech A levels and great art facilities. The vibe of the school is very calm and resolutely not hot-housey, and all the children seemed very well behaved and happy.

Not for: The purely academic, or kids who are not ‘joiners’. Bloxham will suit kids who thrive as a big fish in a small pond, so it’s a personal call whether your child fits that mould or would benefit more from having to make their mark amongst greater numbers.

Dare to disagree?! Be my guest! The next full Open Morning will be held on 5 March 2022, and there will be a Sixth Form Taster Morning on 22 Jan 2022, and a Lower School Open Morning on 7 May 2022. Click here to register. Otherwise, access their pre-recorded virtual open event here.

Bloxham School, Bloxham, Oxfordshire, OX15 4PE, Tel 01295 724341 bloxhamschool.com.

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