Childcare and schooling

From birth to adulthood 

 

Oxford offers a high standard of education from early years through to secondary level. The city is home to a wide range of well-regarded nurseries and pre-schools, many of which follow recognised educational frameworks such as the Early Years Foundation Stage and provide nurturing, play-based environments to support learning and development. For more details about fees and application guidance, please see the Childcare Services webpages; with places in high demand, staff are encouraged to explore their options in advance of relocation. The University itself currently operates five nurseries and works with community partners to offer further places, with ongoing plans to expand provision.

Primary and secondary schools in Oxford consistently perform well in Ofsted inspections and many achieve results above the national average. The city offers a mix of community, faith-based, and academy schools, giving families flexibility in finding the right fit. Several schools have strong specialisms in languages, science or the arts, and there is also an excellent choice of independent schools.

In addition to academic quality, schools in Oxford benefit from the city’s rich cultural, scientific and historical resources, offering pupils access to museums, libraries and university-led outreach programmes. This environment fosters curiosity, creativity and a love of learning from an early age.

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If you’re new to the UK, you may find it helpful to explore  UK Education System – GOV.UK which provides a clear overview of the different types of schools and stages of education in England.

Children typically start primary school in the academic year they turn five, beginning in Reception. This is followed by Key Stages 1 and 2 (years 1–6) during which they follow the National Curriculum.

At age 11, they move to secondary school, progressing through Key Stages 3 and 4 (years 7–11). Most pupils take GCSE exams at the end of Year 11 (age 16). After this, students can continue in sixth form or college, studying A-levels or vocational qualifications.

Admissions to state schools are managed by Oxfordshire County Council, and it’s advisable to check catchment areas and application deadlines early. For a broader summary, including school structure and qualifications, see the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

Some schools in Oxfordshire offer a curriculum and examination system which leads to internationally-recognised qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate. For example, Europa School UK is a bi-lingual state school approximately 10 miles south of Oxford. From age 11 onwards, pupils study for the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Several schools in Oxfordshire offer the IB Diploma Programme. St Clare's is the longest-established IB World School in England, and offers the IB Diploma, Pre-IB, and Middle School Programme.

  • St Clare's, Oxford: specializes in the IB Diploma Programme, offering it to students aged 15-18, as well as shorter Pre-IB and summer courses. It is known for its strong IB results and was ranked 12th in the UK for results by The Times.  
  • St Edward's, Oxford: offers the IB Diploma.
  • EF Academy, Oxford: offers internationally recognized qualifications including the IB.
  • Headington Rye, Oxford: while not exclusively an IB school, Headington offers places for sixth form entry at 16+ and accepts applications for the IB.
  • Leighton Park, Reading: this school is near London and Oxford and offers the IB Diploma Programme.
  • Kingham Hill, Chipping Norton: A co-educational independent boarding and day school that offers British and American education programmes. It is recognised by the US Department of Education and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses for entry into US universities. It is about 25 miles from Oxford.

The University of Oxford offers a comprehensive childcare service for eligible staff. There are five University nurseries: Bradmore Road, Mansion House, Jack Straws Lane, Woodstock Road, and the Triangle Nursery. The University also offers places at nine community nurseries across Oxfordshire. Please be aware that demand for the University’s nursery provision is high and there may be a long waiting list. View the current fees for University nursery places.

Some of the colleges run their own nurseries; college members are given priority, but the nurseries accept applications from members of other colleges. There are many other childcare providers in and around Oxford. Search the Oxfordshire County Council website for childcare providers based on your location.

If you decide not to use a formal childcare provider, there are many ways your child can socialise.

You also might like to have a look at these additional childcare providers that the University has links with.

From 1 September 2025, eligible working parents will be able to access up to 30 hours of free childcare per week (for 38 weeks a year) for children aged from 9 months old until they start school.

All 3 and 4-year-olds in England are also entitled to 15 hours of free early education or childcare per week. You may be able to get free childcare if you have a 2-year-old and get certain benefits.

For more detail read this Government guidance. 

Many local providers offer fee-paying ‘holiday camps’ on school grounds or at leisure centres, often on a theme or featuring a particular sport, music or drama activity. You can book for a half day, full day or a whole week. Our Childcare Services team has negotiated access to a variety of play schemes and summer camps, or see Out of school clubs and holiday playschemes options on the Oxfordshire County Council website.

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