St Clare’s School: Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK

St. Clare’s, Oxford was founded by Anne Dreydel OBE and Pamela Morris in 1953, and grew out of a scheme to establish links between British and European students after the Second World War. The original name was The Oxford English Centre for Foreign Students, which later became St. Clare’s Hall, and then St. Clare’s, Oxford. The College grew quickly to encompass a wide range of nationalities and programmes, both at university and pre-university level and in English Language. In the mid-50s, students came mostly from around a dozen Western European countries, as well as the UK. Nowadays there are 50 nationalities represented on the IB programme alone.

As well as longer courses of study, shorter summer courses also became a central feature of the College in the early days. Links with universities in the USA date back to the 1960s and formal agreements by which American university students could gain credit towards their US degrees by studying abroad at St. Clare’s started up in the 1970s, and gradually replaced the University of London external degrees that had previously been taught.

In 1977 the College introduced the International Baccalaureate Diploma for pre-university students, only the 41st school in the world to do so. There are only 13 other institutions in the world who have taught the IB longer than us. A Levels were gradually phased out as the IB became established and we are now the longest established IB World School in England.

St Clare’s, Oxford remains faithful to its original mission which is to advance international education and understanding.

St Clare’s started in 1953 in just one house on the Banbury Road in Summertown, an elegant area of north Oxford, one kilometre from the centre of the city.

Expanding from its original nucleus just south of Summertown, as student numbers have increased over the decades, more houses have been purchased for student accommodation and extra facilities have been developed in new or existing buildings. Recent developments have included a new art studio, mathematics classrooms, and science laboratories, plus additional top-quality accommodation in award-winning buildings within our gardens and grounds.

In 1998 St Clare’s acquired an English language school in Bardwell Road, just two main streets away from the original buildings.  IB World School and teenager summer courses are centred on Banbury Road campus, while  International College academic centre for adults is based at Bardwell Road campus

Campus of this prestigious British boarding school  is set in beautiful grounds with tennis courts, football field, swimming pool, swings and playground.
 

This international boarding school is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to offer the IB Diploma. It is the longest-established IB World School in England, and there are only 13 schools in the world that have been teaching the IB Diploma for longer than us.

The English Language courses at St Clare’s are accredited by the British Council, the UK’s international organization for educational opportunities and cultural relations.

This prestigious boarding school for international students is a member of the Independent Schools Association.

This Top UK independent boarding school is a member of the Independent Schools Council membership community who work collaboratively for the continuous improvement of international education.

St Clare’s is a member of English UK, the national association of accredited English Language centres, and the world’s leading language teaching association.

This best UK boarding school for international students is the Oxford member of the International Association of Language Centres, a global network of high-quality, independent language schools that teach the official language of their country.

Student residences are of a very high standard. All are within walking distance of the campus for lessons, meals, meetings with teachers and activities.

Adult students based at the International College at the Bardwell Road Campus have the choice of self-catering houses with kitchens. Even though students can cook their own meals, when at classes Monday to Friday, most have lunch in dining room. Students can choose Standard (shared bathrooms) or Superior rooms (ensuite bathrooms) and there is a choice of single or twin rooms.

Teenagers live in several houses close to our IB World School at the Banbury Road Campus and are cared for by a warden who has their own separate apartment in the house.

In summer the School has a beautiful campus exclusively for Juniors age 10-15. This is a very secure campus with perimeter walls and responsible staff monitoring the site. Students live in houses on campus and are cared for day and night by wardens who live in the houses. They eat all their meals in the main dining room and when on trips or excursions the schools provides them with picnic lunches.