Headington Rye Oxford Overview
Headington Rye Oxford originated as Headington School, founded in 1915. Following its merger with Rye St Antony in 2024, it has become one of the UK’s most renowned girls’ schools. Notable alumnae include Emma Watson, who portrayed Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series.
The merged Headington Rye Oxford operates across two campuses, each catering to different educational stages: the Prep School (ages 3–11), which is co-educational and located at the 12-acre Rye campus, and the Senior School (ages 11–18), which is girls-only and situated at the adjacent Headington School campus, spanning 23 acres.
Headington Rye Oxford benefits from an exceptional location in the historic university city of Oxford, England. The school is just one mile from the city center, easily accessible within a 10-minute drive.
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Headington Rye Oxford Courses & Programmes
Headington Rye Oxford maintains rigorous academic standards, ranking within the top 15% of schools nationwide. Students consistently achieve outstanding results and progress to prestigious institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge, Russell Group universities, and leading academic institutions around the world.
However, Headington Rye Oxford does not simply recruit already high-achieving students and watch them attain excellent grades. Instead, the school selects students with potential and adaptability, focusing on understanding and meeting each individual’s needs. With over 30 A-Level subjects available— including specialized options such as Photography and Politics—students are encouraged to discover and excel in their areas of strength. The school also offers a dedicated Law program, providing aspiring lawyers with a strong foundation to enhance their prospects for admission to university law schools.
Headington Rye Oxford Extracurricular
Dance
Headington Rye Oxford offers a wide variety of dance classes and companies to join. Whether a beginner or an experienced dancer, whether a ballet enthusiast or a street dance lover, every student has the chance to train for competitions and performances on professional stages.
Drama
Drama is extremely popular at the school. Productions are staged each year for different age groups, with roles allocated through open auditions. Whether students enjoy performing on stage, working behind the scenes, or engaging in the intricate and challenging art of costume design, they are given opportunities to participate in high-quality productions.
Music
The Music School at Headington Rye Oxford provides over 350 music lessons each week. With around 20 different ensemble groups and instruction available in 22 different instruments, the school regularly holds concerts both on and off campus, offering all young musicians a chance to shine.
Sport
Headington Rye Oxford offers a wide range of sports clubs and teams for girls of all ages and abilities—from cheerleading and equestrian to fencing and climbing. Students may also choose to study Physical Education as a GCSE or A-Level subject or pursue a BTEC Diploma in Sport.
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cricket
- Cross-Country
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Hockey
- Health-related Fitness
- Lifesaving (Swimming)
- Netball
- Personal survival (Swimming)
- Strength & Conditioning
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Yoga & Pilates
Headington Rye Oxford Boarding
Headington Rye Oxford has five boarding houses, offering flexible options for students in Years 7 (age 11) to 13 (age 18), including full, weekly, half-weekly, or occasional boarding. The school places great importance on creating a safe and structured boarding environment where girls can live and study happily together. Boarders are encouraged to develop empathy and the confidence to express their views.
Boarding at Headington Rye Oxford allows students to fully utilize the school’s facilities, whether accessing the gym or pool in the evenings, enjoying themed house dinners, or participating in fun social events. The aim is to foster a special sense of belonging within the boarding “family” and to build lifelong friendships.
Headington Rye Oxford Pastoral Care
Boarding at Headington Rye Oxford is far more than just a place to sleep. It is where students live, socialize, relax, have fun, cook, dine, and study. Therefore, the school’s pastoral support network operates around the clock to ensure help is always available when needed.
From peer support through the student leadership team to the Headmistress, boarders are well supported. Central to this is the boarding pastoral team, led by the Director of Boarding and including houseparents (both male and female), a matron, and graduate boarding assistants. This team gets to know every girl individually and maintains regular contact with her teachers and tutors during the week, sharing any information that may require additional attention. Additionally, the Health Centre provides 24/7 first aid and emergency care.
- Official website: https://www.headingtonrye.org/
- Location: Headington Rd, Oxford, OX3 7TD
- Email address: admissions@headingtonschool.com
- Phone: +44(0) 1865 759100
