Cothill House

Cothill House is a boarding boys' independent school for preparatory pupils in Cothill, Oxfordshire, which houses around 220 boys from the ages 8–13.

General information

The school is junior and full boarding, with around 220 pupils. A range of music scholarships and bursaries are provided in term time. Facilities include a CDT Centre, Golf Course, Swimming Pool (covered), a newly installed theatre, six hard tennis courts, 16 music practice rooms, 2 drum rooms, a squash court, games room, a library, a computer room containing only iMacs and a state-of-the-art teaching block.

The school is operated by the Cothill Educational Trust, which also runs Chandlings School, the Château de Sauveterre, Ashdown House, Kitebrook House, the Old Malthouse, Mowden Hall in Northumberland, and St. Aubyns School in Rottingdean, East Sussex. Trustees include Ralph Townsend, head of Winchester College.

Boarding

Cothill is a full boarding school, meaning all of the 220 pupils there board full-time, and the only times they are allowed home are on organised weekends, exeats, half-terms and end-of-terms. In the Sixes (year 4), pupils board in dormitories in the main house. In the Fives (year 5), pupils board at 'The Bungalow', a small bungalow in the grounds run by 2 houseparents. In the Lower Removes (year 6), pupils return to the main house for the entire year and they board in dormitories. In the Middle Removes (year 7) pupils board for 2 terms in the main house, but spend one term (either the autumn or winter term) at the Château de Sauveterre in France to learn French. The Leavers (year 8) board at Chandlings School, a day school 5 minutes away and operated by the Cothill Educational Trust. This is to give the leavers a feel of life in a public school boarding house, and prepare them for their next schools.

Prince William and his brother Prince Harry were registered to attend Cothill, which was the choice of their father Charles, Prince of Wales,^[1] but in the event they both attended a rival establishment, Ludgrove, instead.

Co-Curricular

Alongside academic lessons, there are a number of co-curricular subjects available. Golf lessons, tennis lessons, squash lessons, music lessons and many other lessons are available.

Subjects taught

Timetabled subjects are: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computing/IT, Design & Technology (CDT), English, French, General Studies (comprising Current Affairs, Ethics and History of Art), Geography, History, Latin, Mathematics, Music (Classical, and to a certain extent, Rock), Physics and Religious Studies. Chinese is also available as an extra.

Future Schools

The majority of Cothillians go on to major British boys public schools such as Eton, Harrow and Radley. However, a number of Cothillians go to other public schools such as Marlborough, Wellington, Stowe, Rugby and many other establishments. A page with a list of schools Cothill leavers have gone to can be found here.

School trips

Since 2006 the school has run regular trips to Berlin for those in the Ls (year 6). Fifteen boys and two teachers travel by minibus and plane on a Friday, spend the weekend exploring the city centre and return on the Monday. This affords many cultural and historical insights, photo opportunities and a break from the school routine. 'Dreadlock Holiday' by '10cc' has been adopted as the trip theme tune.

School song

At footer, golf or cricket

We play as hard as nails;

At goal or club or wicket

Our judgement rarely fails;

We win the day with pleasure

But yet are in no measure

Despondent when we lose,

For while we are breathing we are hoping

With our heart and soul and will;

There's no time for slacking or moping

At the best School, our School, COTHILL

And when our work is over,

All Latin verbs are done,

We tolerate no shirking,

The fight is fairly won,

All things are tackled cleanly,

No advantage taken meanly,

We still remember then

That while we're breathing we are hoping

With our heart and soul and will;

There's no time for slacking or moping

At the best School, our School, COTHILL

Notable Old Cothillians

• Maharaja Gaj Singh of Jodhpore, diplomat and politician^[2]
• John Bradbury, 2nd Baron Bradbury^[3]
• General Sir Hugh Stockwell, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe^[4]
• James Charles Macnab of Macnab, Chief of Clan Macnab^[5]
• Rupert Thorneloe, soldier
• Alexander Gordon, 7th Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair^[6]
• Thomas FitzGerald, Earl of Offaly

References

External links

• Official Website
• Cothill House at the Independent Schools Council

Coordinates: 51°41′35″N 1°19′52″W / 51.693°N 1.331°W / 51.693; -1.331