What Oundle School does

Oundle School is a UK independent co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 11-18, operated by The Corporation of Oundle School, a non-profit entity governed by Royal Charter (1930, last amended 1999) under the historical oversight of the Worshipful Company of Grocers. The school traces its origins to 1556 when Sir William Laxton endowed a Free Grammar School in Oundle, Northamptonshire, and has been fully co-educational since the early 1990s. It currently serves approximately 1,160 pupils — roughly 840 boarders (around 72%) and 320 day pupils — drawn from 120+ UK feeder schools and 35+ nationalities, supported by a 700+ staff body including subject-specialist teachers teaching across the full age range.

The school's core "products" are its academic curricula: the bespoke 11+ Curriculum (delivered alongside the Omnia Saturday enrichment programme), the 13+ to (I)GCSE Curriculum (with ten subject choices across two pathways), and the highly individualised Sixth Form A Level Programme (29 A Level options plus bespoke Trivium and Quadrivium enrichment courses and the EPQ). These are physically and philosophically wrapped around signature facilities — most notably the integrated SciTec STEM campus (developed with Imperial College London and Swansea University, including the Patrick Engineering Centre), the Stahl Theatre, the Cripps Library with rare book collections, and the Oundle School Sports Centre with a 50-metre pool. A structured House-based pastoral system organises daily life across junior boarding (The Berrystead), junior day (Scott House), and senior day/boarding Houses, with units of 8-10 tutees per tutor and three residential adults in every boarding House.

Oundle generates revenue primarily through recurring termly tuition fees — UK boarding ranges from £15,480 to £20,385 per term depending on year group, with overseas boarding at £20,745/term and day fees at £10,120-£13,300/term (Academic Year 2026/27, inclusive of VAT) — supplemented by one-time registration (£300), acceptance (£1,200), and advance deposit fees (£3,000 UK / £20,000 overseas). Means-tested bursaries exceeding £4m annually support 170+ pupils at an average 70% fee remission, funded by setting aside up to 10% of income. Distribution is direct via the in-house Admissions Office, with international admissions supported by an official Mainland China representative, the UKiset adaptive cognitive test, and overseas reception events in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and London. The school is a member of HMC, IAPS, ISC and BSA, holds HMC and ISI inspection endorsements, and operates a charitable governance model with no equity ownership.

Name

Oundle School

Legal name

The Corporation of Oundle School

Website

https://oundleschool.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Oundle School is a UK independent co-educational boarding and day school (founded 1556) serving around 1,160 pupils aged 11-18 in Northamptonshire, generating revenue from termly tuition fees (£15,480–£20,745 per term) and operating under the Worshipful Company of Grocers' charter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Secondary Education

NAICS

Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

Keywords

• Independent boarding school
• Secondary education
• STEM education
• Co-educational schooling
• Academic enrichment

Headquarters

HQ city

Oundle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Boarding tuition fees: Termly tuition charges for boarding pupils across First Form through Sixth Form, with separate rates for UK and overseas boarders. Fees include boarding, laundry, tuition, games, Health Centre and Sports Centre access, library, lectures, and some entertainment.
2. Day tuition fees: Termly tuition charges for day pupils across First Form through Sixth Form, lower than boarding fees as day pupils do not incur boarding and laundry costs.
3. Registration and acceptance fees: Non-refundable registration fee of £300 (inc VAT) upon registration and acceptance fee of £1,200 (inc VAT) upon accepting a place offer, with £720 credited against final bill. Advance Deposit of £3,000 (UK) or £20,000 (Overseas) payable upon acceptance.
4. Optional extras and supplementary charges: Public examination fees, Music lessons, and certain variable expenses charged on the School Account. Optional participation in My School Fee Plan for monthly instalments via third party.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Oundle School provides co-educational boarding and day secondary education for pupils aged 11-18 (with Laxton Junior School covering ages 4-11) in Oundle, Northamptonshire. Its core offering is an integrated, full-boarding academic and pastoral experience structured around year-group curricula (11+, 13+ to (I)GCSE, Sixth Form), bespoke enrichment courses (Trivium, Quadrivium, Omnia), a vertical House pastoral system, and an extensive co-curriculum (sport, music, drama, CCF), delivered through a 700+ strong staff body on a town-based campus anchored by the SciTec STEM facility.

Product overview

Oundle School is a single co-educational boarding and day school rather than a multi-product platform; its core offering is the integrated educational experience for pupils aged 11-18, delivered through a connected set of year-group curricula, a House-based pastoral system, and a wide co-curriculum. The core academic products are the 11+ Curriculum (delivered alongside the Omnia Saturday enrichment programme), the 13+ to (I)GCSE Curriculum, and the Sixth Form A Level Programme (complemented by the bespoke Trivium and Quadrivium enrichment courses and the EPQ option). Day-to-day pupil life is structured around named junior and senior Houses, with The Berrystead (junior boarding) and Scott House (junior day) feeding into the senior boarding and day Houses (Laxton, Sadler and others). Distinct academic facilities — SciTec (including the Patrick Engineering Centre), the Cripps Library and the Stahl Theatre — are wrapped into the curriculum, while the Sports Centre anchors a 270+-team sport offering, the CCF, Music and Drama. Funding-side products (Scholarships, Bursaries, and CEA/FCO military and diplomatic support) sit alongside Admissions and are integral to the school's access model, and the Laxton Junior School (4-11) operates as the main feeder within the Corporation of Oundle School.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Laxton Junior School: Day school within the Corporation of Oundle School for children aged 4 to 11, located on East Road, Oundle.
• Oundle School Enterprises Limited
• Oundle Enterprises
• The Oundle Society and OO Club
• Oundle School Sports Centre

Products and services

• Laxton Junior School (4-11)
• 11+ Curriculum (First and Second Form)
• 13+ to (I)GCSE Curriculum
• Sixth Form (A Level Programme)
• Omnia Saturday Enrichment Programme
• Trivium (Third Form bespoke course)
• Quadrivium (Lower Sixth course)
• Scholarships Programme
• Bursaries (means-tested financial support)
• CEA/FCO Funding Support for Military and Diplomatic Families

Quantifiable outcome

• ~10% of Oundelians receive Oxbridge offers; over two thirds of leavers take up a place at a Russell Group university; ~10% choose overseas university destinations including the United States.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Imperial College LondonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Imperial College London in developing the SciTec STEM facility and the Patrick Engineering Centre. Imperial is described as 'one of the UK's top universities' with a unique ongoing partnership supporting Science, Mathematics, Design, Technology and Engineering education at Oundle.
• Swansea University Engineering DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the development of Oundle's renowned SciTec STEM facility, including the Patrick Engineering Centre. Engaged in collaboration on engineering education.
• Royal SpringBoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing close relationship to enable access for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to an Oundle boarding education. Bursary Scheme identifies candidates particularly likely to benefit from a boarding education.
• UKisetcoreTechnology or IntegrationAdaptive cognitive test measuring underlying ability and language proficiency. Used as a pre-registration tool for overseas applicants to advise on academic fit before entrance assessments. Mandatory UKiset report requested for non-native English speakers at earliest stage of application.
• Oundle's Official Mainland China RepresentativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll applicants from mainland China are directed to contact Oundle's official representative. Provides dedicated enquiry handling and support for Chinese families navigating UK boarding school admissions.
• The Oundle Society and OO ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAlumni organisation jointly hosting events with the Admissions team (e.g., Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, London drinks receptions). Provides lifelong alumni community support including social and professional presence globally.
• St Peter's Church, OundleminorOthersSt Peter's Church spire forms a distinctive landmark; the church hosts the School's Thursday lunchtime music concerts which are open to all. Partner in the town-based community experience central to Oundle life.
• von Bülow EducationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational consultant that visited Oundle and shared reflections on the School's boarding culture and distinctive qualities on its Englische Internate platform, supporting independent perspective for international families.
• Worshipful Company of GrocersOthers

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Harrow School: Harrow is one of the most prestigious UK boarding schools with comparable premium fees, full-boarding ethos and Oxbridge outcome profile. Although boys-only, it competes with Oundle for international and UK families targeting the very top of the independent school market.
• Shrewsbury School: Shrewsbury is a co-educational boarding school with strong STEM and co-curricular breadth, serving a similar mix of UK and overseas families. Its fees, scale and university-outcome metrics are directly comparable to Oundle.
• Tonbridge School: Tonbridge is a prestigious HMC boarding school in Kent with a similar scale and Oxbridge/Russell Group outcome profile. Although historically boys-only, it has expanded into co-education and competes for the same high-achieving UK and international cohort as Oundle.
• Charterhouse School: Charterhouse is a leading co-educational boarding school in Surrey with a comparable full-boarding ethos and similar intake profile. It targets overlapping UK and international families and runs a STEM and arts offering of comparable breadth.
• Stowe School: Stowe is a co-educational full-boarding school in Buckinghamshire at comparable fees, scale and Oxbridge outcome profile. It competes for similar UK and overseas families seeking a heritage campus with strong co-curricular breadth.
• Sedbergh School: Sedbergh is a co-educational boarding school in Cumbria with similar full-boarding ethos, sports breadth and university outcome profile. It is a comparable mid-tier HMC boarding competitor for UK and international families seeking premium residential education.
• Eton College: Eton is the apex UK boarding school and the prestige benchmark against which Oundle positions itself. Although it operates at a higher exclusivity tier and larger scale, it competes for the same top-decile UK and international families targeting Oxbridge outcomes.
• Marlborough College: Marlborough College is a large co-educational boarding school in Wiltshire with a similar mix of full-boarders and day pupils, comparable fees and a comparable university-outcome profile. It competes head-to-head with Oundle for UK families seeking premium full-boarding education.
• Wellington College: Wellington College is a leading co-educational boarding and day school in Berkshire at broadly comparable scale, fees and full-boarding ethos. It targets the same top-university outcome segment with extensive co-curricular breadth and a STEM-led curriculum offering, making it the closest UK analogue to Oundle.

Broad incumbents

• Cognita Schools: Cognita is a global operator of independent and premium schools including UK boarding schools such as Stowe and Repton. While it is not a single-school peer, it operates within the same UK premium boarding segment and provides a useful reference for the asset/enterprise value of comparable UK HMC boarding schools under group ownership.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/oundleschool
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtxxXcrLPxsQYPpES-qUaDg
• Facebookfacebook.com/OundleSchoolRecruitment
• Instagraminstagram.com/oundleschool

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oundle School